Tokunbo Afikuyomi bounces back, as Tinubu restores him to relevance with key agency appointment

Afikuyomi who was elected to the Senate at the beginning of the fourth republic in 1999 to represent Lagos Central Senatorial District under the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD) and also sought re-election and won in 2003, held strong political ties with Tinubu since the days of National Democractic Coalition (NADECO).

He also played a key role in Tinubu’s exoneration during the Chicago State University certificate scandal that nearly consumed Tinubu in 2002 during his tenure as Lagos State governor after the return of democracy. Afikuyomi had stuck his neck out for Tinubu when he admitted that he mistakenly filled the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC nomination form for Tinubu.

They however fell apart in 2007 when he expressed his intention to succeed Tinubu after the expiration of his tenure as governor. Tokunbo actively campaigned across the wards and local governments for the governorship ticket and reached out to stakeholders in the Action Congress, AC, with the belief that he would be handed the party ticket, but Tinubu went for different choice in the person of Fashola, his Chief of Staff.

This angered Afikuyomi and at the late hour defected to the All Nigerians Peoples Party (ANPP) to contest the governorship election in 2007. Ironically, after all the grandstanding, Afikuyomi made a quick U-turn a day to the election and returned to AC where he served as the party’s state agent at INEC.

Althouth, that was the first sign of remorse and efforts to reconcile with Tinubu, his decision to challenge Tinubu was not lost on the latter.

He eventually returned to the Tinubu political dynasty quietly after serious negotiation for relevance in Fashola’s administration. He was later appointed commissioner and later appointed to supervise party activities including chairing the Lagos All Progressives Congress, APC local government Election Committee in 2017.

Since then, he hasn’t bagged any significant appointment, not even when APC grabbed national power in 2019. It was beginning to look like he has been totally side lined until his name came up for a board appointment.

He is now the Lagos State chairman, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion.

Besides him, others who also got appointed as chairpersons and chief executive officers of federal boards and key agencies include APC national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje; Magnus Abe, Kayode Opeifa, Dayo Israel, Felix Morka etc.

See the full list below

1. NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS, MINISTRY OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Hillard Eta, Chairman (Cross River State)

2. NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, Chairman (Lagos State)

3. FEDERAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY OF NIGERIA, MINISTRY OF AVIATION

Abdullahi Ganduje, Chairman (Kano State)

4. NATIONAL SUGAR DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

Surajudeen Ajibola, Chairman (Osun State)

5. NIGERIA BULK ELECTRICITY TRADING COMPANY

Sulaiman Argungu, Chairman (Kebbi State)

6. NATIONAL AGENCY FOR GREAT GREEN WALL

Senator Magnus Abe, Chairman (Rivers State)

7. NATIONAL TEACHERS INSTITUTE

Festus Fuanter, Chairman (Plateau State)

8. NATIONAL BOARD FOR TECHNOLOGY INCUBATION (NBTI)

Raji Kolawole, Director-General (Oyo State)

9. NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF EDUCATIONAL PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION

Victor Giadom, Chairman (Rivers State)

10. TEACHERS REGISTRATION COUNCIL OF NIGERIA

Mustapha Salihu, Chairman (Adamawa State)

11. INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FUND

Hamma Kumo, Chairman (Gombe State)

12. NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY

Donatus Nwankpa, Chairman (Abia State)

13. SHEDA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMPLEX

Senator Abubakar Maikafi, Chairman (Bauchi State)

14. FEDERAL MORTGAGE BANK OF NIGERIA

Nasiru Gawuna, Chairman (Kano State)

15. NIGERIAN POSTAL SERVICE

D.J. Kekemeke, Chairman (Ondo State)

16. NATIONAL INLAND WATERWAYS AUTHORITY

Musa Adar, Chairman (Sokoto State)

17. NATIONAL STEEL COUNCIL

Prof Abdulkarim Abubakar, Chairman (Nasarawa State)

18. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

Garba Muhammad, Chairman (Kaduna State)

19. NATIONAL BIO-SAFETY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Mu’azu Rijau, Chairman (Niger State)

20. NIGERIAN BUILDING AND ROAD RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Durosimi Meseko, Chairman (Kogi State)

21. FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL, GOMBE

Zainab Ibrahim, Chairman (Taraba State)

22. NIGERIAN RAILWAY CORPORATION

Dr Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director (Lagos State)

23. FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL, IDO-EKITI

Durotolu Bankole, Chairman (Ogun State)

24. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, ABEOKUTA

Mr Dayo Israel, Chairman (Lagos State)

25. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, ASABA

Mary Idele, Chairman (Edo State)

26. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, LOKOJA

Chidi Duru, Chairman (Anambra State)

27. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, OWERRI

Emma Eneukwu, Chairman (Enugu State)

28. CIVIL DEFENCE, IMMIGRATION AND PRISONS SERVICES BOARD

Maj-Gen. Jubril Abdulmalik (retd.), Secretary (Kano State)

29. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, UMUAHIA

Mr Uguru Ofoke, Chairman (Ebonyi State)

30. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, YENAGOA

Felix Morka, Chairman (Delta State)

31. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, YOLA

Bashir Gumel, Chairman (Jigawa State)

32. DAVID UMAHI FEDERAL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, UBUHU, EBONYI STATE

Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, Chairman (Imo State)

33. NATIONAL OIL SPILL DETECTION AND RESPONSE AGENCY

Edward Omo-Erewa, Chairman (Edo State)

34. NIGERIAN MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY AGENCY (NIMASA)

Yusuf Abubakar, Chairman (Kaduna State)

35. NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, NNEWI, ANAMBRA STATE

Ali Dalori, Chairman (Borno State)

36. AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, SHIKA, ZARIA,

KADUNA STATE Lawal Liman (Chairman)

37. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE KATSINA

Dr Abubakar Maiha (Chairman)

38. RAW MATERIALS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL