The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), on Sunday, named James Faleke as the preferred choice for the position of Chief of Staff President-elect Bola Tinubu.

Mr Faleke, a serving House of Representatives member representing Ikeja, was the Secretary of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council. He was reelected for another term in the February 25 elections.

In a statement signed by the AYCF National President Yerima Shettima, the group explained that nominating Mr Faleke was important, describing him as a very loyal associate of the President-elect.

“This is an opportunity for the President-elect to get someone with good skills of managing the relationship between him, officials of government and the rest of Nigerians,” the group advised in its statement.

“Faleke, being a highly-experienced lawmaker, can build a very cordial relationship between the Executive and legislative arms of government in the new dispensation.”

Following the conclusion of the presidential election in February, some key figures in Mr Tinubu’s camp have been suggested as likely candidates to take the critical role as the president’s chief of staff. Names that have been mentioned include current minister for works and housing, Babatunde Fashola; a spokesman for the APC presidential campaign, Dele Alake, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

But the group in its statement said that Mr Faleke stands for the emerging political class in Nigeria.

“Honourable Faleke represents the new generation of Nigerian political class, politically savvy and intellectually vibrant. We are in a new, ideas-driven world and Nigeria’s Presidency therefore needs a Chief of Staff in tune with the modern system of democratic governance,” the group said.