A member of the House of Reps, James Faleke has entered the race to become chief of staff to the President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Faleke joined his contemporary Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives who has been fingered to be preferred by some inner caucus of the Lagos All Progressives Congress, APC, to launch date the top job.
The magazine had reported an infighting among Tinubu’s associates on who becomes his chief of staff after a group in the party Renewed Hope Advocates, RHA, warned the president-elect not to pick Gbajabiamila.
The group said the Speaker will be a baggage for the incoming administration, citing alleged corruption charges against him.
An Indication that Faleke, a former governorship aspirant in Kogi State has joined the hot race emerged on Tuesday after another group, North central for Tinubu, claimed the laamaker is the best man for the job..
The group cited , for instance, how Faleke supported Tinubu’s bid by forming the Tinubu Support Group.
It said the appointment of Faleke as chief of staff will also give Christians in the country confidence that one of their own is occupying a top position in government.
Faleke is a Christian while Gbajabiamila is a Muslim.
According to a statement signed by Bimbo Adedoyin Okpere, its presifent, the group said the appointment of Faleke will be a reward for loyalty considering that he was at the fore front of Tinubu presidential campaign, apart from his track record in the public service which gives him an edge over other candidates,
The women for Tinubu said: “We are calling on our great leader, the President elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pick Hon. James Abiodun Faleke as his Chief of Staff when he assumes office. From all indications and from our findings, he remains the best for the job.
“Faleke was the pillar behind the formation of TSG and as the leader of the group, he helped galvanize the needed grassroots support for the presidential bid of Tinubu.
“It is also on record that Faleke subsequently emerged the Secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council where he functioned effectively as the coordinating official to ensure the victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 general election.
“We are are also rooting for him because of his proven track records of public service performance in the last 24 years which is known to all and verifiable.”
Meanwhile, Bayo Onanuga, the spokesman for Tinubu said last week that a decision had not been made on the matter. He said his boss will decide on the matter when he returns from France whereally he’s currently seeking a medical attention.
