PRINCE TOYIN GAFAAR BOLOWOTAN ASSURES THE PEOPLE OF IKORODU CONSTITUENCY 1 OF A RENEWED HOPE, IF ELECTED IN 2019. | Shakiru Seidu. ...Reveals his plans in an exclusive interview with Shakiru Seidu.

Shakiru Seidu of MegaXpression Magazine, engaged Prince Toyin Gafaar Bolowotan, founder, Bolowotan Football Club and one of the aspirants, contesting for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikorodu Constituency 1 seat, in an exclusive interview, where he revealed some of his plans if elected in 2019.

Question: Good evening sir, my name is Shakiru Seidu, Publisher, MegaXpression Magazine. What is your own name and can you tell us brief about yourself sir?

Answer: My name is Gafaar Alade Shakirudeen Oluwatoyin, a.k.a Bolowotan. I was born in Lagos on February 7, 1968 to the illustrious family of Late Ogunyemi Gafaar; an Ikorodu indigene and a business man who lived in the heart of Lagos Island. I grew up with my parents at 39, Maloney Street, Opposite St. Joseph Church, now Adeniji Adele road, Lagos Island.

I attended LCC Primary School, Ebute Elefun and Muslim Missions Primary School, Mushin for my basic education; Mushin Boys High school, Okota, Isolo for my secondary education and Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin to study Business Adminstration. My thirst for knowledge further took me to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) to bag a Bachelor of Science in Economics. In my unflinching zeal to see others succeed, as an undergraduate student, I engaged my friends in a free after-school tutorial for students which was a rare privilege enjoyed in those days. I was the head of the WAI brigade and was also made captain of the Mushin Boys High school football team in Tournaments.

Due to my brilliant academic profile, I became the Senior Prefect at Mushin Boys’ High school, Okota, Isolo while I was also made the President of all Secondary Schools in Okota at that time. As an Undergraduate and Activist, I was involved in Student Union activities and was appointed the Electoral Committee Chairman during the ABU Students Union election in 1994. Upon graduation with honours and several awards, I alongside progressive minds started the Life Scope Africa; an NGO dedicated to cater for the less privileged and HIV/AIDS Victims in 1997.

As a pragmatic, charitable and grassroots person, who sees community service as a veritable tool for social development especially for the youths, I established Bolowotan Football Club (BFC) in 2007 to help develop and nurture young talents in Ikorodu which has helped in the forefront of discovering hidden talents of youths in Ikorodu for over a decade and has also assisted successful young talents get International football career.

Question: As a Football Administrator, Philanthropist, Publisher, Politician, how do you contribute to your community positively?

Answer: My zeal for development is sacrosanct, while youth development has been one of the cardinal points of my target because I know how it was. My dad died in 1991 and at the time of his death, we’re not that poor, but we are not rich at all. We cannot boast of Black and White Television. It hasn’t been so easy but I am happy being humble. When I see any opportunity to assist young people to develop, to improve on any endeavours, I am always very elated, excited and very happy to give helping hands. That has being my philosophy right from my youth age.

Question; As you earlier mentioned concerning your Football Team, called Bolowotan FC, What is your motive behind the establishment?

Answer: See, the establishment of Bolowotan FC is about social development, about youth empowerment, about giving youth the opportunity to excel on what they know how to do best. It was by accident in 2007. I had an encounter with some young men around Ikorodu, in the process, we decided that we can make a change.

So I am happy and very proud of Shina Ajayi, he is now in Austria and he is the genesis. He named the Football Club “BOLOWOTAN”. Bolowotan as a Football Club now has gone beyond the activities of Oluwatoyin Gafaar and I am happy and proud to be the pioneer of the Team.

Question: However, what prompted you to venture into Politics?

Answer: The same reason why I went to football gave me the zeal to come into politics. Because I believe that the little I have can further be channel to the growth and development of our youth and community. I am not saying those who have been there have not done anything, but I think we can do better using another form and means of getting back to our youth and society. Above all, I want my own children to be proud of me and of the town that they grew up in. I want them to be proud of Ikorodu that is crime free, developed and economically vibrant.

Question: In Ikorodu constituency 1, considering the numbers of Aspirants that have shown interest to contest House of Assembly, how do you prepare for the battle?

Answer: You see, it's a game of politics and even in every household, we do play it. Even in office and society, we play it. But in this situation, someone just need to be focused and determined. The zeal to succeed will make one to succeed above all these intrigues.

Question: What are the reasons behind your aspiration for 2019?

Answer: My plans are to improve the lives of my people through sponsoring Bills that enhance quality education, developmental programmes, youth empowerments and welfare for the aged. Honestly, we need to take good care of our youth by giving them adequate and comprehensive legislation about the education, about the development, about the orientation; we need to renew their hope. That is why we chosen our theme to be ‘RENEWED HOPE’. Finally, I want my constituents to have confidence in their representative, so that by the time we are able to renew our dashed hope, we will see a better society that you and I would be proud of.

Question: How sure is it true that Hon. Babajimi Benson has being the pillar behind your ambition?

Answer: (Cut in) Listen, the question has become an insult to me and each time I hear it, I don’t feel very happy. I have known Jimi Benson long time ago through my friend, Mayor Deen Sanwoola, who have been my friend for over 40 years. We grew up on the same street; we went to the same primary school in 1979, just to tell you how far we’ve being together. Why would people say it was Jimi Benson that asked me to contest, forgetting that he was the reason why I did not contest in 2015. He persuaded me not to do so for Ikorodu to have what they have today and I told him that I am not desperate for power, I am not a desperate person, I am not going to block the success of anybody. That is why I agreed to stepped down in 2015, but then, I will not tie my destiny to ambition of any human being. So, all the blackmails, backbites that are coming up now is a deliberate attempt to rubbish a good product in 2019, but let's see how far this will go. However, let me repeat myself again, Hon. Babajimi Benson, MHR, is my friend and he will remain to be my friend, but I say it with all sense of responsibility that he is not behind my ambition to contest 2019 House of Assembly election in Ikorodu Constituency 1.

Question: Was there any relationship between you and your co-contestants?

Answer: The very few of them that I have met, my relationship with them have been very cordial. I can mention their names; Hon. SOB Agunbiade, Hon. Jokomba, Barr. Ijelu, and Nero. Hon. Saheed Ibikunle happens to be my personal friend just like Nero. So, it has been very cordial.

Question: What is your familiarity with the Royal Heads, Baales and other traditional Chiefs in your constituency?

Answer: Yes, like I said, I have taking my tour round and got their blessings. My relationship with them is also cordial. The bottom line is for the growth and development of Ikorodu. We will do what we need to do to woo for support of our people and we are not going to play politics of do or die. I will not do it; I will not encourage it at all. We hope at the end of the day, the Royal Heads will allow things to take shape. They are our fathers at any point in time and whenever I met them, their responses have been very pleasant.

Question: APC just concluded with their Congresses, what is your message to the new executives of the Party and what are you expecting from the Exco of Ikorodu Constituency 1?

Answer: Firstly, let me congratulate the outgoing and incoming Exco. Of course the outgoing Exco have tried their best, if they are not there, there won’t be any Party, they have served extremely well. I implore the new executives to be more focused, determined and I expect them not to be partial. I demand their support and I need their votes, I need them to deposit their trust with me and I will not fail them. That is the gospel I’ve been preaching with them.

Question: Your campaign team seems to have a lot of young people, what particular is your interest in the young people of Ikorodu?

Answer: (Smile) Shakiru, as I’ve earlier said, I am happy because since I lost my father, 28 years ago, my mother, with her believe in me have really made good things happened to me. That is why I want many young people in Ikorodu to be happy, because if they are happy, the society will be prosperous. My joy has always been youth development and that is why I have so many of them. They passed through my philosophy and they’ve gone through tutelage of my training and today; some of them are happy and thanking God that we have come across each other. My pride is to have people, create people and made people to be successful, to be independent, instead of being a nonentity.

Question: Sir, we discovered that over the years, you’ve been making donations to Hospitals, paying bills of indigents. Are you doing these because you wanted to contest and want people to see you as a good man?

Answer: Not at all. I was doing these because I knew I grew up from poor home. I know what it means to pay certain bills. Not only hospital bills, I do pay school fees, scholarship and so many other things, just to make the young, elderly people happy. However, I see what I did as an opportunity to get closer to my people and to get closer to God. Above all, I say it with all sense of responsibility that it has nothing to do with my political ambition at all. It’s mainly to have a better society and an environment that can be proud of.

Question: Your experience as a Sport Administrator and Member of Lagos State Football Association, how are you going to use these experiences, dealing directly with the young people to the benefit of Ikorodu politically?

Answer: Let me tell you, the easiest way from taking crime out of society is through sports, football in particular. This is because of my encounter with young people. Through sports, I know how many of our youths that are bread winners in their various homes through sports, and that alone alleviates poverty from our society. As an Administrator, I will use sports to project the youth of Ikorodu. I will train them to be a trainer of others.

Question: Finally sir, MegaXpression Magazine is waxing stronger day by day, What your advice for the media organisation?

Answer: Over the period of time, I’ve been reading MegaXpression Magazine both online and print copies. But then, I just want you to be more focused and determined because you have become a project of Ikorodu Division. So Shakiru Seidu, I am very proud of you and I want you to keep it up and be very objective with your right up.

Shakiru Seidu: Thank you sir for sharing part of your precious time with us.

Gafaar Bolowotan: You're most welcome Seidu.