Lagos Focus News spoke to Samuel Oluwatosin Olatunji, one of the strongest contenders for the seat of a Councillor in Ward F, Ifelodun Local Council Development Area of Lagos State and he spoke his mind on issues.
I am Prince Tosin Samuel Olatunji. I was born and brought up in Ifelodun LCDA. They gave birth to me at no 35 Muri Ojora Street, on 17th February 1984. Most people call me Tblack because am black and that’s the name they have been calling me right from my secondary school days. I went to Sari Iganmu Secondary School, Orile.
I am a business owner; my head office is located here at Alafia bus stop. I am the CEO of Toren Enterprises. We are into sales of phone accessories, bureau de change, POS, CD selling and films. We also are into the Disc Jockey business, we handle events for people. Most of my friends call me Mr. Capacity because I can do what I have set out to do.
After your secondary school, what happened next?
From there I went to Lagos State University, Ojo, to study Marketing. Thereafter I started my business and by the grace of God, I have people working under me. Everything I have is still within this Ifelodun axis. I have a stand at Safejo Bustop, Itire, and also have one at Ojo Road, Okoya. We have been pushing things in our little ways. This is where I grew up and I have to establish my business here so that others can benefit.
When did you go into politics?
I was born into politics. My father is still alive and a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress. My father is Prince Olatunji and very popular when it comes to APC in Ajeromi/Ifelodun. My father has been in politics since the time of UPN.
While growing up, we knew he was a core politician and since then he has been nurturing us. We do politics every day because as a family man, you are also a politician. Everything about me is politics. My father is the chairman advisory committee to the Mayor of this local council is the Ifelodun Chairman, Hon Olufemi Okeowo.
He has been in the system even when the former chairman Fatai Ajidagba was there. My father is one of the most active members of APC in Ward F. The chairman is Baba Leke. My father is one of the 13 leaders in charge of Ward F.
For my political experience, I started as a party agent when it was still AD. I started as an agent and a canvasser. From AD to AC, ACN, and now APC, I have been handling polling unit 030 which is in Edidi Street since Ifelodun was created. From AD to APC, I have been party agent 1, in every election either: presidential, national assembly, governorship, or local government. We have always worked hard to lift our party in every way possible.
Ward F, constitutes a greater percentage of the youths. What have you done to help the youths in your community including the elderly?
As I said, most of my businesses are situated here. I have in one way or the other touched the youths in this community. I am also a very good mobilizer. I live at 22 Edidi Close that’s one of my father’s buildings. We have been reaching out to the youths by all means. Remember also that am a DJ, I encourage the youths to live their full potential and so I discourage the use of drugs, a campaign they all appreciate I run and we have such a campaign coming up soon with the police. There is a need to defend your community from everything bad.
In any street gathering, I find myself, I always preach against illicit drug consumption and violence. In the aspect of reaching out to the youths, if you start from Tejumola, Onile Wura, Muda, Aniiyaloye, Edidi, Adegboyega, Muri Ojora, Imam, ALafia bus stop, Turner and Alabaka. These are the places I have touched people’s lives either as a philanthropist, or businessman. Like I said, I can’t walk just a little distance without any of these youths hailing me.
I declared my intention on the 10th of January. Even if I am driving, a lot of them still stop me on the way that’s where humility starts because the people are also watching you and they can testify on my behalf.
What would you do differently if elected as a Councillor?
Everyone has their map or guide. My manifesto will be basically on education. I don’t make promises and my parents made me understand that when you start making promises to people that’s when you start having problems. You may promise five and you can fulfill four, they will say, you did it for this or that person but you did not do it for me.
I want to assist youths, especially in the area of obtaining GCE and JAMB forms, apart from the one the council is doing. I want to help in that aspect because some parents in this Ajegunle cannot afford these forms. We have been doing it quietly. You know am also operating a POS business. Some parents will come and they will say, I have only this little amount, I don’t know how to complete the money and I will support them based on my little capacity.
If things work out and I become the Councillor to represent Ward F, I want to face the youths. In terms of education, I want to help people the best way I can. I still know some zones that are still under my watch and I can take over this policy of buying exam forms for them from the chairman.
I will do my best to reduce the rate of drug intake among our youths. As I said, I met with the DPO of Pako and we have plans where I will organize a seminar, he will come to address the youths on the issues of drug consumption. It’s those of us who are at the bus stop who see the way these guys consume alcohol and other substances. Why would someone smoke and drink from morning till night? We want them to understand that there is no life in what they are doing.
I want to encourage them, there are lot of work they can do even petty trading, and anyone bigger than us we can take it to sponsors
Why do you want to contest because we have a Councillor who has just done one term? Does it mean he is not doing well?
The current Councillor is a brother that I supported massively during his campaign and we campaigned together so there are no grudges between us. As a progressive, nobody is perfect. I will give you an instance, when they are playing football on the pitch, everyone watching will think they know better but You that is on the pitch will think you are playing the best football. That’s just the little example I want to give you.
Hon Tosin is trying. You will believe you are doing your best but the people outside will say why are you playing it like this or probably those talking may not even know how to play.
I give my respect to our father and pathfinder President Tinubu and as a youth, I will follow his mandate. Hon Tosin is trying; we have been together even when he was campaigning for the chairmanship. Am not here to attack or condemn him.
Let me remind you that when former governor Akinwunmi Ambode was in the seat, everybody believed he would go for a second term, but a lot of things worked against him. It’s not compulsory that you must go for two terms but if you want to, your first term should speak volumes for you.
Am the Lagos State Secretary of the Music Advertising Association of Nigeria and I have over 87 zones that am controlling. Being the secretary, if you want to see the chairman, you have to go through the secretary because they know am his right-hand man and I have brought positive impacts through that position.
When I came on board, I stopped all those things that people distaste and made sure the people had access to the leadership. Some artists will come around and want to see the chairman, and you don’t use that authority you have to exploit them because you don’t know where you will meet them tomorrow.
My coming out is not a do-or-die affair. I will follow the precedence of our president who said it was his turn when he was campaigning. For me, Oluwatosin Samuel Olatunji, it’s my turn because I have the capacity, I have served, and have the skill and ability to run. Hon Tosin, the serving Councillor can go a notch higher even as a member of the State House of Assembly.
He has outgrown councillorship, let him allow the youths to take over but if he wants us to meet at the primary, am ready.
