Governor of Imo State and Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA), Hope Uzodimma, has warned that the greatest threat to President Bola Tinubu’s administration is not failure but silence, arguing that when government achievements are not effectively communicated, misinformation and rumours quickly fill the gap.
Uzodimma spoke on Wednesday at the opening of the two-day RHA National Mobilisation Retreat, which brought together political leaders, government officials, party stakeholders and mobilisation coordinators from across the country to develop strategies for grassroots engagement and political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor described the Renewed Hope Ambassadors as a nationwide civic engagement platform designed to bridge the gap between government policies and public understanding by ensuring that information about reforms and development initiatives reaches communities across the country.
“But let me tell you where the real danger lies. It is not always failure that undoes a government. Very often, it is silence. When we do good work and nobody hears the story, someone else tells it for us, and they tell it wrong. When reform goes unexplained, rumour rushes in to fill the gap. And when progress never travels the last mile to the village, the people it was meant for never even know it arrived. That is why the Renewed Hope Ambassadors exist,” he said.
Speaking on the theme, “Building a Unified National Mobilisation Architecture,” Uzodimma said the administration’s achievements should serve as the foundation for a structured communication strategy capable of taking government messages to every community in Nigeria.
He maintained that President Tinubu’s performance in office has earned him the right to seek a second term, revealing that the organisation is mobilising more than 4.4 million grassroots supporters nationwide to advance the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, reforms introduced by the administration in key sectors of the economy are beginning to produce positive outcomes despite the initial challenges associated with implementing difficult but necessary policies.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated courage in taking difficult decisions that previous administrations avoided. The Renewed Hope Agenda is not merely a government programme; it is a comprehensive plan to rebuild Nigeria and secure a better future for generations to come,” Uzodimma said.
He cited infrastructure development, healthcare interventions, social investment programmes and economic reforms as evidence of the administration’s commitment to national development.
“The achievements of this administration have laid a solid foundation for continued progress. The performance of President Tinubu merits a second term, and it is our responsibility to take that message to every community across the federation,” he added.
Uzodimma disclosed that the organisation had developed an extensive grassroots structure stretching from the national level to polling units across the country.
“Our architecture moves from the national leadership to the six geopolitical zones, the 36 states and the FCT, down to the 774 local government areas, 8,809 wards and ultimately 176,846 polling units across Nigeria,” he stated.
He further revealed plans to deploy 25 canvassers in each polling unit nationwide.
“At twenty-five canvassers to a polling unit, that is a lawful civic force of 4,421,150 people across the federation. That is the mathematics of serious mobilisation. That is the difference between hoping to win and organising to win,” he said.
The governor stressed that the initiative is not solely political but also aimed at ensuring Nigerians understand the rationale behind government reforms and their long-term benefits.
“We mobilise without arrogance. We persuade without insult. We defend the President without insulting the citizen. We answer hard questions without losing our temper. Our mission is to communicate truth, performance and evidence with discipline and patriotism,” he said.
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, also addressed participants, emphasising the connection between governance and party success.
He urged coordinators to translate government policies and achievements into messages that resonate with ordinary Nigerians.
“Policies do not speak for themselves. Projects do not speak for themselves. Statistics do not speak for themselves. People speak,” he said.
Yilwatda noted that while facts and data remain important, compelling stories are often more effective in connecting with citizens and building support.
Highlighting the administration’s achievements, he said Nigeria’s economy has returned to a stronger growth trajectory, sovereign credit ratings have improved, foreign reserves have strengthened and major investments are being attracted into the country.
He pointed to projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline and ongoing rail modernisation efforts as key components of the administration’s development agenda.
The APC chairman also highlighted investments in education and healthcare, noting that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund has expanded access to higher education for approximately 1.5 million students, while new cancer treatment centres and expanded health insurance coverage are helping improve healthcare access.
Kaduna State Governor and Deputy Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Uba Sani, described the retreat as a critical gathering aimed at building a unified mobilisation structure capable of translating governance achievements into political support.
“The task before us is not merely a campaign; it is a profound call to action,” Sani said.
He stressed the importance of grassroots engagement and data-driven mobilisation strategies, adding that the Renewed Hope Agenda represents a commitment to opportunity, stability and national progress.
Gombe State Governor and Secretary of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Inuwa Yahaya, said mobilisation would play a crucial role in advancing the administration’s agenda ahead of the next general election.
He urged members of the organisation to counter opposition narratives with facts and evidence while communicating the benefits of government reforms to citizens.
“Our job is to meet falsehood with facts, despair with data, and cynicism with the undeniable evidence of progress,” Yahaya said.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, who delivered a goodwill message, praised the initiative and emphasised the need for robust communication and feedback mechanisms to ensure Nigerians understand the impact of ongoing reforms.
According to him, the administration’s economic reforms have improved fiscal conditions across the federation, leading to significant increases in revenue available to states and local governments.
Bagudu noted that the President has repeatedly stressed the importance of taking the benefits of reforms to the grassroots level, describing it as the “last mile” of governance.
He called for greater collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that economic opportunities and government programmes reach communities across the country.
The retreat forms part of broader efforts by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and the APC to strengthen grassroots engagement, improve public awareness of government programmes and build political support ahead of the 2027 elections.
