By Fatima Ndagi
A major wave of political mobilisation is sweeping through Abia State as over 20,000 new members were inaugurated into the Renewed Hope Partners (RHP) — a grassroots initiative aimed at amplifying President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda at the community level.
The event, which took place in Bende Local Government Area, marked a turning point for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South East, with dozens of defectors from the Young Progressive Party (YPP) joining the ruling party.
At the heart of this surge is Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who is championing the cause of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the region.
Kalu described the agenda as more than a policy document — “a living, working vision” that is already transforming Nigeria.
“This is not a distant dream. The Renewed Hope Agenda is here. It is real. It is reshaping the future of our country in real time,” Kalu declared.
One of the most emotional highlights of Kalu’s address was the affirmation that the long-marginalised South East is finally being brought into Nigeria’s mainstream development efforts.
“Nearly 50 years after the civil war, the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) under President Tinubu marks the end of a long wait. It’s a bold step towards healing, equity, and national unity,” he said.
The commission is now fully operational with a confirmed board — a clear signal, according to Kalu, that Tinubu’s government is backing rhetoric with action.
Kalu pointed to tangible results of Tinubu’s economic reforms to incluse GDP growth hitting 3.84% in Q4 2024, with full-year growth up to 3.40% from 2.74% in 2023.
According to him, inflation dropped from 34.6% to 23.71% by May 2025, while staple food prices declined over 25% in Q1 2025 and a trade surplus of ₦3.42 trillion ($2.25 billion) was recorded in Q4 2024, driven by increased exports.
Other indicators he pointed to included the unification of the FX market reduced arbitrage and boosted investor confidence and the removal of fuel subsidy led to a 50% cut in petrol imports making government revenues to double to over ₦9.1 trillion in the first half of 2024.
The administration’s focus on infrastructure and welfare has also started to yield dividends as over 260 road projects worth ₦208 billion are underway, including strategic projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Expressway.
The Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund is backing these major efforts such as the Renewed Hope City and Estate Project aims to deliver 100,000 housing units for low- and middle-income families.
This is just as the newly launched Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) is set to extend consumer credit to 50% of working Nigerians by 2030, with over ₦200 billion in funding.
Kalu described the Renewed Hope Partners as a strategic network designed to deepen engagement with citizens and ensure that policy benefits reach every household.
“You are the voice of the Renewed Hope Agenda in every ward, every polling unit. Your mission is to carry the message of progress, unity, and reform across Abia and beyond,” he charged the new members.
He urged the partners to mobilize for national development and to prepare for the future — including the 2027 elections — by sustaining the vision of Renewed Hope.
“Hope is not a wish. Progress is not an accident. Our task is just beginning. Let’s move forward together — united in purpose and unwavering in resolve.”
The event also featured testimonies from heads of federal agencies and parastatals who praised the administration’s reforms. International credit agencies Fitch and S&P Global have already upgraded Nigeria’s economic outlook to a Stable B rating, further validating the administration’s economic direction.
