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Mustainu Abiodun Tobun, a member of the All Progress Congress (APC), represents Epe 1 in the 10th Lagos State House of Assembly.
He was first elected into the house in 2011.
Before becoming a lawmaker, he served in the Lagos State civil service.
As a lawmaker, he has served in various capacities, including as chairman of the House’s committee on works and infrastructure.
Early Life
Born on April 25, 1963, Mr. Tobun spent his early years on Lagos Island before moving to Epe. He began his education at St. Michael’s Anglican Primary School and also attended Epe Grammar School.
Mr. Tobun pursued higher education at Lagos State Polytechnic, earning a Higher National Diploma (HND) in agricultural economics and extension management. He further advanced his academic qualifications at Lagos State University, where he obtained a master’s degree in business administration and a second master’s degree in legal studies.
His professional career began with the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission as a Community Development Officer, a role he held for 21 years.
Over time, he rose to the position of Head of the Community and Social Development Department. In 2011, he voluntarily retired from public service to venture into active politics.
That same year, he was elected as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, where he continues to serve.
Political career
Mr. Tobun’s journey into politics is deeply rooted in his family’s history and his personal passion for public service.
In a 2020 interview with City People, Mr. Tobun shared that politics runs in his family. His father was a member of the federal parliament before Nigeria’s independence in the late 1950s.
This family legacy inspired Mr. Tobun’s lifelong commitment to politics, which began in his school days and continued to shape his career.
From a young age, he was actively involved in political movements. In 1979, while in school in Ikorodu, he joined the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), serving as the organising secretary for his local government.
In 1983, he joined the Liberal Convention and later became involved with the National Republican Convention (NRC). Following the return of party politics in 1999, Mr. Tobun aligned himself with the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and the APC.
During the 1980s, Mr. Tobun was a state delegate to the convention that brought in Sir Michael Abolade Otedola as governor. As a passionate advocate for the people, he also distinguished himself as a trade unionist, serving as a trustee, General Secretary, and Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE). His roles within NULGE further demonstrated his dedication to representing the interests of his community.
After reaching the peak of his civil service career as Head of Department at the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Tobun chose to retire voluntarily in 2011, with nearly 15 years left in service.Reflecting on his decision during the 2020 interview, the lawmaker explained that his passion to serve and positively impact his community drove him to leave civil service for public office.
He first contested in 2003 and again in 2006, but was advised that the timing wasn’t right. Finally, in 2011, he received the mandate and was elected as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Despite his long-standing service, Mr. Tobun’s political journey has not been without opposition.
In 2022, Mr. Olayemi Orunbon, the Group Coordinator of the Epe Progressive Indigene for Good Governance (EPIGG), publicly opposed Mr. Tobun’s fourth-term bid, arguing that the people of Epe needed a new candidate who would prioritise community interests over “friends and family politics” and unite the various factions within Epe, including Eko Epe, Ijebu Epe, and others.
In a 2023 press statement, Orunbon criticised the endorsement of Mr. Tobun by some community leaders, calling it “a charade” and “a slap on the entire Epe Indigene.”
Despite the criticisms and challenges, Mr. Tobun won his fourth term in the House of Assembly in the 2023 election.
Legislative work
Since his election in 2011, Mr. Tobun has been actively involved in various legislative projects and initiatives that directly impact the people of his constituency.
During his campaign for a fourth term in the House of Assembly, he highlighted several key projects he had proposed and completed.
These include facilitating the construction of a 110-bed Maternal and Childcare Centre in Epe, donating catering equipment to local residents, distributing educational materials, school bags, and uniforms to students, and overseeing the construction of borehole facilities in several Epe communities.
Mr. Tobun’s legislative contributions also include his tenure as the chairman of the House committee on works and infrastructure, where he played a role in overseeing infrastructure projects across the state.
In response to the Federal Government’s “Stay Safe at Home” order during the COVID-19 pandemic, the lawmaker took proactive measures to support his constituents. He distributed food materials and cash to alleviate hunger and provide relief during the lockdown, demonstrating his commitment to the well-being of the people of Epe.
In the wake of the Lekki shooting incident during the EndSARS protests in 2020, Mr. Tobun made a controversial statement during a plenary session, arguing that there was no evidence of deaths caused by military personnel.
“Till today there’s no record of death. Till today we did not see any pictures,” he said, reflecting his stance on the issue.
In September 2023, Mr. Tobun was appointed to the commerce, industry, and cooperative committee as part of the 10th Assembly standing House committees, announced by the Speaker, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa.