Atofarati had announced his intention to begin the 120-hour contest between 1 a.m. on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, and round it off by 1 a.m. on Monday, January 1, 2024, in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
The Chairman of the Landlords Association at TCU/Irekanmi Quarters, Ilawe Road, Ado Ekiti, Joseph Agunbiade, has rallied the support of landlords and residents of the area for Atofarati’s bid and has enlisted their warm reception for the visitors that the contest would attract to the area.
Agunbiade, in a message on Saturday, stated, “This is to inform the Landlords/Landladies of our great community that one of us, a High Chief in our community, the Osagunrin of Igunrin Land, Chief Sanya Atofarati, will be challenging the present holder of GWR for the Longest Marathon Watching TV. Let’s all wish him success in this struggle.
“It is expected that visitors from all over the world, which include different press crews, will focus on our community. I therefore appeal to all of us to show our usual hospitality in whatever form towards our visitors,” the landlords’ chairman said.
This is as Atofarati said he was fully prepared and fit for the marathon exercise and hopeful of setting a new GWR.
Atofarati said, “My team and I are well prepared to dethrone the current record holder who recorded 94 hours. As part of our efforts to achieve this, my doctors are the best professionals around and are focused each second to ensure my stability.
“I see this challenge as a must-win. As part of efforts to actualise this, I had earlier embarked on 48 hours successfully as advised by my doctors and on this account, I was certified fit enough to undertake the challenge. My dietary restrictions are also part of the sacrifices.
“The encouragement from my family, friends and associates has also helped me psychologically. The support from my country home is overwhelming and when I consider all these, I am encouraged to bring this record in their honour”.
Atofarati had said while announcing the bid that an important aspect of the exercise, watching TV at home throughout and not going out for work, community engagement and social activities, especially during a festive season would be bonding with the family.
“I will be using this avenue to raise awareness for information gathering and dissemination in Africa. If I win, it will afford me a global audience to further propagate the quality of a black man through the exhibition of personal crafts and encourage the younger generations.
Atofarati, who released #ChiefSanya and #GWRchiefsanya as the hashtags, had said, “My team would be using the privilege to encourage younger acts. My digital studio will be open to volunteer producers, to record a free track each for 50 artists. Volunteer DJs can also join us on this endurance journey.
“More interesting is that I got the GWR’s approval to submit evidence at a time the world is celebrating Christmas and New Year festivals when there is less work on the tables; but a time to bond and merry with families and friends,” he stated.
