● MOBILISE OUR PEOPLE, DON’T COMPETE WITH OUR PARTY – OPIAH

The Imo State Coordinator of Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Rt. Hon. Goodluck Nanah Opiah, on Tuesday attended the inauguration ceremony of the Ward Coordinators of the advocacy group in Nwangele Local Government Area, charging them to intensify grassroots enlightenment on the policies and programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and Governor Hope Uzodimma, CON.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony held in Nwangele, Opiah congratulated the newly inaugurated ward coordinators, noting that their selection was based not on physical appearance but on proven track records, political experience, and capacity for leadership.

“You were not chosen because you are the most handsome or beautiful, but because of your years of experience, your credibility, and your capacity in human relations,” Opiah said.

“Your responsibility is to mobilise the entire people of Nwangele LGA – not only party members – for our great party.”

He emphasised that the Renewed Hope Ambassadors are not in competition with the All Progressives Congress (APC) but are agents working within the party’s mandate to strengthen its outreach and acceptance.

“We are not in competition with our party. We are agents of the party, and everything we do must align with the party’s mandate,” he said. “Your job is not to try to rig elections but to educate our people on what the federal government is doing and what has already been done. Many people are confused and misinterpreting government policies. Your duty is to clarify, educate, and evangelise.”

Opiah explained that effective grassroots education would prepare the people ahead of elections, making future campaigns easier and more impactful.
He urged the coordinators to listen to the people, gather feedback from the grassroots, and relay such information to higher levels of leadership.

Highlighting the structure and credibility of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors nationwide, Opiah said the selection of coordinators from the national to the ward level reflects the seriousness of the initiative.
He noted that Governor Hope Uzodimma was carefully chosen by President Tinubu as the Director-General of the organisation, while former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim Pius, serves as the Southeast Zonal Coordinator.

He added that former governor Bello Masari coordinates the North-West, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa coordinates the South-South, and other zones are led by equally distinguished personalities.

“That is why I am moving around to personally assess the quality of leaders selected at the ward level,” Opiah said. “I am pleased with the quality of people chosen as Ward Coordinators in Nwangele LGA. You must translate this quality into your selection of Booth Ambassadors, because they are the actual ambassadors on the ground.”

He further urged the ward coordinators to uphold integrity and trust, incorporate more women and youths into their activities, and ensure unity and teamwork in carrying out their assignments.

Opiah thanked the leaders and people of Nwangele for their impressive turnout and warm reception, describing the LGA Coordinator of Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Ezeala Ferdinand Akano, as a dependable and resourceful leader.

He also commended Hon. Amaechi Nwaoha, whom he described as a seasoned lawmaker and dependable ally, noting their long-standing relationship.

Earlier in his address, the Nwangele LGA Coordinator of Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Ezeala Ferdinand Akano, described the inauguration as a major step toward deepening grassroots engagement and consolidating support for the Renewed Hope Agenda in the area.

Akano said the ward coordinators were carefully selected after thorough scrutiny and entrusted with the responsibility of taking the Renewed Hope message to every corner of the LGA.
He explained that the core mandate of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors is advocacy, enlightenment, and education, alongside supporting the APC in outreach, engagement, and mobilisation.

He highlighted several infrastructure and socio-economic achievements of the Tinubu-led Federal Government and the Uzodimma administration in Imo State, noting that these developments have positively impacted Nwangele LGA. Among them are the completion of major federal and state roads linking Owerri to Umuahia, Okigwe, and Orlu, as well as the near completion of the Orlu–Mgbee–Akokwa–Uga Road connecting Imo and Anambra States.

Akano also listed the ongoing construction of a Joint Hospital in Amaigbo, the near completion of a Customary Court building by the Nwangele LGA Chairman, rehabilitation of primary and secondary schools, and the regular payment of salaries to local government staff and state civil servants.

He added that economic conditions at the grassroots have improved, citing the stabilisation of commodity prices, the disappearance of fuel queues, and the resolution of cash scarcity, which he attributed to the “bold and courageous economic reforms” of President Tinubu.

“These are the visible and intangible benefits of the Renewed Hope Agenda which our Ward Coordinators and Polling Unit Ambassadors will take directly to the people,” Akano said, assuring that the coordinators would remain accountable and provide continuous feedback from the grassroots.

He expressed confidence in the leadership of Rt. Hon. Opiah, describing his appointment by Governor Uzodimma as “a round peg in a round hole,” and pledged the unalloyed loyalty of Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Nwangele to President Tinubu, Governor Uzodimma, the APC leadership, and the state coordinator of the group.

Akano noted that Nwangele LGA, with its 11 political wards and 113 polling units, operates a unique leadership structure that transcends partisan politics, involving traditional rulers, elected officials, party leaders, and community stakeholders working collectively for development.
He stressed that the event was not a campaign, as electoral activities had not been opened by INEC, adding that the large turnout reflected voluntary support for the Renewed Hope Agenda.

At the climax of the event, Akano formally inaugurated the 11 Ward Coordinators of Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Nwangele LGA, drawn from Amaigbo, Abba, Abajah, Dim-Na-Nume, Kara-Na-Orlu, and Umuozu wards.

In his welcome remarks, the Executive Chairman of Nwangele LGA, Chief Paul Duru, said the council was ready to hit the ground running in mobilising the people.

He described the gathering as evidence of credible and purposeful leadership in the LGA, adding that Nwangele had never failed in elections and would not start now.

The LGA APC Chairman, Orient Nwadike, said party members in Nwangele are satisfied with the leadership of President Tinubu and Governor Uzodimma, pledging continued support. He affirmed that the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in the LGA are working in harmony with the party and have its full backing to evangelise across communities.

Hon. Amaechi Nwaoha, in his remarks, congratulated the ward coordinators and thanked Opiah and his entourage for the visit. He acknowledged Opiah’s role in his political journey and noted the steady growth of the APC since its formation in 2014.

“When APC was formed, many people thought it was a joke, but today it has become the most beautiful bride,” Nwaoha said, pointing to the increasing number of governors and high-profile politicians joining the party.

Speaking on behalf of the Ward Coordinators, the Coordinator for Amaigbo Ward 3 and former Executive Chairman of Nwangele LGA, Hon. Chizobam O. Chizobam, accepted the appointments and pledged commitment to grassroots mobilisation and education in synergy with the APC.

Dignitaries at the event included Chief Paul Duru (LGA Chairman), Orient Nwadike (LGA APC Chairman), Mrs. Ifeoma Osuagwu (LGA APC Woman Leader), Hon. Mike Akwiwu (SSA on Open Spaces and Parks Management), Chief Dona Nwaogu, Hon. Amaechi Nwaoha, Chief Maurice Onwukwe (LGA Vice Chairman), Chief Daniel Nkpadobi, Hon. Desmond Nwosu (Leader of the LGA Council), former LGA chairmen, councillors, and other leaders and stakeholders.