The Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has assured members of the organisation that it remains intact despite the recent constitution of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council.
Uzodinma gave the assurance on Tuesday at an emergency meeting of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Abuja, convened to address concerns among state coordinators and members over reports that the group could be dissolved ahead of the 2027 election campaigns.
The governor stressed that the organisation was established by President Bola Tinubu and remained separate from, but complementary to, the newly constituted campaign council.
He said the Renewed Hope Ambassadors was created to communicate the achievements of the Tinubu administration to Nigerians and explain the differences between the country before and after the administration assumed office in 2023.
“Renewed Hope Ambassadors was created by Mr President, not by Senator Hope Uzodinma, and upon the creation of Renewed Hope Ambassadors, we were charged with the responsibility of taking the achievements of the government of President Bola Tinubu to the people, to educate the people, to create awareness, to let the people know the difference between the Nigeria before 2023 and Nigeria after 2023,” he said.
Uzodinma disclosed that the group’s media tour across the six geopolitical zones was already underway, with members highlighting what he described as the administration’s reform achievements.
He said the formation of the Presidential Campaign Council had not changed the organisation’s mandate or status.
“I’ve invited you to let you know that nothing has changed. The constitution of the presidential campaign council is a political issue that happens every time there is an election.
“Renewed Hope Ambassadors, you are the organic structure of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. You will still function and play your role even after elections,” he said.
The governor described the campaign council as a temporary structure established for electoral purposes, while stressing that the Renewed Hope Ambassadors would continue operating beyond the election.
“The presidential campaign council, which all of us are members of, will come and be used for election purposes. And after that, we will continue. We are not going anywhere.
“You are like the barracks. Soldiers will come, soldiers will go, the barracks will remain.
“Mr President has told me to tell you that nothing has changed, and Renewed Hope Ambassadors is still there,” he added.
Uzodinma also announced plans for a summit involving elected and appointed political officeholders across the country in the third week of September.
He said the Renewed Hope Ambassadors would organise the summit in collaboration with the Progressive Governors Forum and local government chairmen, with President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima expected to address participants.
The governor said reports that the organisation was being targeted for dissolution in some states had contributed to the anxiety among members and prompted him to convene the emergency meeting.
“I’m told that some mischief makers in some states wanted the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to be dissolved.
“It became very worrisome. That is one of the reasons why I called for this meeting, that you are strong,” he said.
He noted that the organisation had offices across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and the six geopolitical zones.
Uzodinma also dismissed suggestions of rivalry between the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and the Presidential Campaign Council, pointing out that he holds leadership positions in both structures.
“If anything, I am the Director-General of Renewed Hope Ambassadors, I’m the Secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council, I’m the head of secretariat,” he said.
He urged members to remain focused on mobilising support for President Tinubu’s re-election, stressing that every eligible Nigerian voter was important to the campaign.
“We need every vote in Nigeria. Every vote. There is no bad vote. Once you are Nigerian and able to vote for President Bola Tinubu, we need the vote,” Uzodinma said.
Speaking on behalf of the group’s national coordinators, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim thanked Uzodinma for convening the meeting, saying the clarification had helped address a communication gap that could have resulted in misunderstanding.
“Without communication, there would be miscommunication or even misunderstanding,” Anyim said.
He reaffirmed members’ commitment to Tinubu’s re-election, saying organisational arrangements would not diminish their support for the President.
“Our faith in our product is actually the driving force, and we sustain that faith anyhow, whatever it takes for us to put in our best for our candidate to win the election,” he said.
The National Director of Logistics and Support, Shehu Usman, also welcomed the clarification, saying members across various states had been seeking information about the organisation’s future following the creation of the campaign council.
He expressed optimism that the briefing would strengthen cooperation between the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and the Presidential Campaign Council.
Uzodinma was joined at the meeting by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Dr Sunday Dare; Director-General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa; and other officials.
