• As Fani-Kayode Expresses Hope of Sterling Performance

By Halimah Olamide

Amidst outrage and questions over the propriety of appointing a 24 year old as the Chairman of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), the Presidency on Sunday said the appointment is in line with the promise of President Bola Tinubu to ensure full inclusion of young Nigerians in his administration.

Saying there is no issue as far as the appointment of Imam Ibrahim Kashim Imam is concerned, the Presidency said being a First Class degree holder, he is eminently qualified for the role.

Responding to an inquiry by the NPO Reports, presidential media aide said the position of the chairman of the road maintenance agency has nothing to do with the performance of the agency.

Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, argued that Mr. Imam will be heading a board that will be sitting three or four times in a year.

“I don’t think there is any issue about his appointment to a part-time chairman’s job. Usually, board sits 3 or 4 times a year. It is not an executive chairman’s position.

“FERMA has a Chief Executive who is in charge of the day-to-day running of the organisation.

“At 24, he is a grown up and full adult. The young man is educationally qualified for the role with a First Class degree. The President is only fulfilling one of his campaign promises that young people will be given opportunities in his administration at various levels of the Executive Branch.”

Meanwhile, former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said he has no iota of doubt on the ability of the son of one of the closest political allies of Tinubu to perform in his new task.

Fani-Kayode, who played a prominent role in the campaign for the election of Tinubu said Imam’s appointment “gives hope to the younger generation.”

He said the development clearly shows that Nigeria rewards and utilises the talents of those that are highly qualified and that have a good pedigree.

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He wrote on his X handle, “I have known Ibrahim since he was born 25 years ago and I can testify to his ability, excellence and brilliance.”

Going into his pedigree, Fani-Kayode said his “distinguished and highly respected grandfather,” Alhaji Ibrahim Imam, was a great force in the politics of the First Republic.

He reminded Nigerians that Imam’s grandfather was Secretary of the then ruling NPC, one of the founders and patrons of the Borno Youth Movement and a leading member of the Northern House of Assembly.

He went further, “His equally illustrious father, one of my oldest and dearest friends and brothers, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, is a dogged fighter and first class politician and one of the those that contributed so much to the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the presidential election.

“He is also one of the most brilliant, forthright, reliable, honest, courageous and credible forces in Nigerian politics today, who served as Special Advisor and Senate Presidential Liason Officer in the Government of President Olusegun Obasanjo and who served as Chairman of TETFUND in President Muhamadu Buhari’s administration.”

The former minister said there is no doubt that “Ibrahim will follow in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps and do exceedingly well.”

He also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for what he called “the great opportunity that he has given this young and gifted man who got a first class degree in Engineering at Brighton University in the UK just a few years ago and followed it up with his Masters.”

He ended his post with a prayer saying “May God guide and lead him in this great national assignment and may he go from strength to strength.”

He also advised all men and women of goodwill to pray for him because his success is Nigeria’s success.

Imam’s appointment as the chairman of the roads maintenance agency had sparked public debates with many questioning what experience a 24 year old fresh graduate will bring on board to help drive the agency.