The Cross River State Chapter of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) officially set its 2027 agenda on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, formally charging its newly appointed Local Government Coordinators to serve as the primary engines for leadership building and political mobilization.
The strategic move aims to solidify the grassroots presence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s administration across the state’s 18 Local Government Areas.
Speaking at a roundtable meeting held at the Metropolitan Hotels Calabar, the State Coordinator of RHA, Amb. Soni Abang, described the coordinators as the “first class set” of a movement designed to reshape the state’s political landscape.
Amb. Abang revealed that the appointments received the personal endorsement of Governor Bassey Edet Otu, ensuring a commitment to merit-based leadership over traditional political patronage.
“The President believes that the media alone cannot do it. He is going beyond the Nigerian media to reach out to every Nigerian to say, ‘I mean well, this is what I am doing, and this is what I want to do.’ It is not just about 2027, but eventually, it will be about 2027 because that is where we are going to conclude our assignment,” he added.
“The Governor is being very deliberate about building capacity—not just political capacity, but leadership capacity,” Abang stated. “You are the first to be recruited into this class prepared to build the future of Cross River State. You were chosen because each of you has proven yourselves across various walks of life.”
Addressing the coordinators’ core mandate, Amb. Abang urged them to aggressively educate the public on the President’s economic policies, specifically regarding food security, education through the NELFUND soft credit facilities to students, the Lagod-Calabar coastal superhighway, removal of the fuel subsidy, stabilization of the economy, floating the economy amongst many others. He cautioned the opposition against “weaponizing” inflation to fuel public dissatisfaction.
Contrasting this narrative, he noted that federal policies are yielding tangible results, citing the World Bank’s reports on Nigeria’s GDP growth and the steady rise of foreign reserves toward the $50 billion mark.
Speaking of concerns regarding gender balance in the initial list of coordinators, Amb. Abang assured that a specific organ for women would be established.
“We are setting up an appropriate organ for the women. No man will be nominated to join their side. We will also do everything to accommodate the youth; carry them along now so the leadership training starts today,” he concluded.
In his remarks, the Chief of Staff to the Governor Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, cautioned the coordinators against complacency, noting that many others were “itching” for the positions.
“Ambassador Soni Abang does not listen to excuses; he wants the job done. Just finish it,” Ironbar said, while harping on the culture of “finished work” over rhetoric.
He charged the coordinators to work closely with their respective local government chairmen and ward coordinators in order to successfully deliver on their mandate.
Head of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Secretariat in Cross River State, Dr Peter Abang Ojie charged the local government coordinators to commit themselves wholeheartedly to the actualization of the group’s objectives.
The local government coordinators as announced by the state Coordinator are: Daniel Isang – (Abi), Charles Ikpeme (Akamkpa),Etim Bassey Effiong (Akpabuyo),Chief Barr. Ene Cobham (Bakassi), Agabi Ignatius Adida (Bekwarra), Asuquo Ekpenyong (Calabar Municipality), Archibong Ironbar (Calabar South), Martin Abraka Itim (Obanliku), Ekpenyong Obo (Odukpani), Canice Aniah (Obudu), Uchuod Marcellus Ebi (Yala), Udey Clement Ikawu (Ogoja),Marshal Dickson Ayo (Obubra), Emmanuel Ndum (Etung), Mbissang Abung (Ikom), Amissine Usetu Ogban (Biase), Kennedy Ubi Jbiang (Yakurr) and Victor Ofum Agbor (Boki).
In their separate responses, coordinators in each of the three senatorial districts of the state, while acknowledging the enormity of the tasks ahead, however pledged to deliver on the mandate bestowed upon them by the group.
Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk, Cross River State Commissioner for Health; Hon. Oden Ewa, Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs; State Chief of Protocol to the Governor, Mr Sylvester Abang; Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, Ntol Thomas Udam, Mr George Abang, Mr Royjones Akpak, were among many others who graced the occasion.
By: Eugene Upah
