Renewed Hope Ambassadors Mobilise Grassroots Structures in Cross River

The Cross River State chapter of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors has charged its newly appointed Local Government Coordinators to strengthen grassroots mobilization and leadership capacity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

At a strategic meeting held in Calabar on Wednesday, the State Coordinator, Ambassador Soni Abang, described the coordinators as pioneers of a transformative political movement aimed at shaping the future of leadership in the state.

He revealed that their appointments received the endorsement of Governor Bassey Edet Otu, underscoring a deliberate effort to promote leadership development beyond political patronage.

“The Governor is intentional about building not just political capacity, but leadership capacity,” Abang stated. “You have been carefully selected because of your proven track records in your respective fields. You are the foundation of what we are building for the future of Cross River State.”

Amb. Abang explained that the Renewed Hope Movement is an initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu designed to engage Nigerians directly and communicate the administration’s policies and vision beyond conventional media platforms.

According to him, while the movement’s long-term direction aligns with the 2027 elections, its immediate focus is on deepening public understanding of government reforms and strengthening grassroots structures.

He urged the coordinators to educate citizens on the administration’s economic policies, particularly on food security and economic reforms, noting that the opposition has attempted to exploit inflationary pressures to discredit the government.

“Our responsibility is to help people understand that difficult decisions are sometimes necessary to achieve sustainable outcomes,” he said, adding that economic indicators such as GDP growth and improving foreign reserves reflect gradual progress.

Abang also pledged that the Renewed Hope Ambassadors would complement Governor Otu’s “People First” agenda, highlighting achievements such as significant debt reduction and the recovery of state assets, including Tinapa.

He empowered the coordinators to monitor federal and state government projects within their local government areas and report their findings.

“By the time elections approach, our performance will speak for itself,” he asserted.

Addressing concerns about gender representation, Abang assured that a dedicated structure would be created to accommodate women, while also emphasizing the inclusion of youths in leadership training and political engagement.

In his remarks, the Chief of Staff to the Governor and Alternate State Ambassador, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, urged the coordinators to remain focused and results-driven.

“This is not about rhetoric; it is about delivery. Many others desired these positions. Ensure you justify the confidence reposed in you,” Ironbar advised.

He further encouraged collaboration between the coordinators and local government chairmen to ensure effective execution of their mandate.

Dr. Peter Ojie, Head of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Secretariat in the state, also called for total commitment from the appointees toward achieving the group’s objectives.

In separate responses, coordinators from the three senatorial districts acknowledged the enormity of the responsibility and pledged to deliver on their mandate.

The meeting was attended by key government officials, including the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk; Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Hon. Oden Ewa; Chief of Protocol to the Governor, Sylvester Abang; and Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, among others.