From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, has urged the South East to embrace President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in order to reposition the zone.
Kalu made the call during the inauguration of over 20,000 new members of the Renewed Hope Partners (RHP) at Bende, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.
He described the RHP as a socio-political mobilisation group aimed at deepening national integration, championing President Tinubu’s development agenda, and repositioning the South East in Nigeria’s power dynamics.
Kalu said the South East should embrace the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President, not just as beneficiaries but as strategic partners in Nigeria’s political and economic transformation.
Reaffirming Tinubu’s love for the South East, epitomised in strategic appointments such as the Minister of Works and inland waterways leadership, Kalu sees the RHP as a “movement of purpose, unity, and national transformation.”
He urged citizens to reject divisive rhetoric and resist politicians who aim to mislead the electorate in 2027. “Let no one lie to you. Chase such politicians away. We must protect the Renewed Hope Mandate,” he said.
Kalu, highlighting the achievements of Tinubu, said under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria has recorded notable achievements, including a 3.84% GDP growth in Q4 2024, with annual growth rising to 3.40% in 2024 from 2.74% in 2023, among others.
He said that the administration has also unified the FX market, reduced arbitrage, and boosted investor confidence, stressing that Nigeria’s trade surplus also reached N3.42 trillion ($2.25 billion) in Q4 2024, driven by increased exports.
“Since assuming office on Monday, May 29, 2023, President Tinubu’s administration has implemented bold reforms and policies that are already reshaping Nigeria’s future. The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a slogan; it is a comprehensive blueprint for economic revitalisation, social welfare, security, and national development,” Kalu said.
Kalu told the RHP, “Your mandate is clear: deepen grassroots engagement and ensure that the benefits of national reforms are felt in every household; serve as champions of unity, inclusion, and national development; mobilise support for the Renewed Hope vision as we prepare for the future, including the 2027 elections.”
Kalu informed them that Abia is the launchpad of the initiative, adding that it will be expanded to all parts of the South East and Nigeria.
Representatives of the APC National Working Committee, led by Chief Emmanuel Onyeukwu, Deputy National Chairman, South, said the Tinubu administration has brought visible dividends of democracy across all zones, adding that the defection of South-South governors to the APC is a pointer to the growing national confidence in Tinubu’s leadership.
They described the President as “a good product that is easy to sell” and urged South Easterners to seize the momentum and integrate fully into Nigeria’s mainstream political and economic structure.
APC State Chairman Dr Kingsley Ononogbu was of the view that the RHP should remain aligned with the party and Tinubu’s re-election objectives in 2027.