INTERVIEW: My family seeks Remi Tinubu’s support to raise our kids, says mother of quadruplets

The Ogun-based couple Sodiq and Abiodun Olayode became a social media sensation in July after they welcomed not just one or two, but four babies — quadruplets. A friend of Sodiq identified as James took to X to celebrate the rare and natural phenomenon and solicited funds on behalf of the family. The post rapidly gained attention and fetched them monetary gifts to the tune of N14 million. Some Nigerians and brands also offered to bless Olayode’s family with necessary items for their newborn babies. In this interview with TheCable Lifestyle’s PELUMI BOLAWA, Abiodun recalls her pregnancy experience and how she and her husband received the quadruple news. The mother of six also reveals how they plan to utilise the money raised by Nigerians for their family. 

TheCable Lifestyle: How did you react when you discovered you were pregnant with quadruplets? 

Olayode: We initially thought it was two babies. But we did another scan around four to five months and discovered the bump was so big. My consultant said ‘We do not think this is two’. That we should go for another scan. They saw two babies and three placentas. My consultant said maybe one has terminated by itself. So, we just manage the two. That they are growing fine.

For six months, I was unable to walk very well. So, my consultant said we have to go for another scan, saying she does not understand the bump. We went for another scan. They gave us four babies, four placentas, babies in different sacks. The consultant said I think we are expecting quadruplets, not twins. Initially, we thought it was twins, later we thought triplets, and one terminated. Now, it is quadruplets.

He said by the 28th week, I would have to stay at the hospital and that he did not think I would be able to move around with my legs. I was dragging with him that ‘me I am fine’. That if it is swollen legs I would walk. I work from home. I told the doctor I would be working. He was like ‘You still work? He said no problem that you would bring your laptop from home and ‘we would give you a socket’. You would work from here. I said okay no problem. I did that. Then later around the 27th week, I was feeling heavy I could not move around anymore or carry myself to the hospital. I said I do not think I can walk around anymore. They gave me a bed. I was there for one and a half months before I gave birth. They started monitoring my stages. They started monitoring my health. If I wanted to ease myself, they would tell me not to stand up, so as not to mess myself up in the toilet. I cannot just move around anymore. I was doing everything on the bed.

TheCable Lifestyle: What were some of the immediate challenges you faced after the birth of the quadruplets?

Olayode: I started bleeding from my nostrils. That was a day before my delivery. Because my consultant is the HOD. He is not always available at the hospital. He gave me a number that if I notice anything I should call him, saying I should not rely on the doctors. That they are just HOs and MOs. His team members came to check on me and said they did not understand the bleeding. They asked if I picked anything from my nose. I said I just slept and woke up and saw blood everywhere. They said the blood is not even normal. It is a clotted blood. They told the consultant and he said ‘I will be there’. He was on my case 24/7. He was monitoring me 24/7. He came and said what happened? Because before then, I was not breathing fine, and they had given me one drug to be breathing okay. They said I had to stop the drugs and it was time to bring the babies out because there was no space anymore. That this belly was too big and before everything scatters. So, they said let us manage the bleeding first and tomorrow they bring the babies out. I thank God that I am alive. I thank God my children are alive and see my other children.

TheCable Lifestyle: Can you describe your daily routine now since the arrival of your quadruplets?

Olayode: I have to love six babies equally. Though it is not easy. You know I was managing two before, but now that they are six, I have to love them equally. Those are the daily routines that have changed. I have to make sure all of them are fine. Checking up on them 24/7. I do not have to put all my energy into the four babies alone leaving the two kids behind. Now I have to love all of them. I have to keep an eye on them and check up on their health.

TheCable Lifestyle: What was your reaction to James’ X (Twitter) post and the subsequent response from the public?

Olayode: I will tell you that I am not a social media person. I am not on Twitter, but when he sought our permission, it was my husband that he told and asked me if they should go ahead, I said no problem, as far as it is for good. So when they posted it, the next morning, he just came to me and said ‘honey see what I am seeing’. I asked and said if it was because of what James posted. I was happy and I appreciated God for showing us mercy.

TheCable Lifestyle: How did you feel when you saw the support and donations from X users?

Olayode: I was happy. And at the same time, I give glory to God. It is not by our doing nor is it by James’ doing. It was God who decided to show us mercy. God knows it was not easy to take care of two, three, four, talkless of six. Initially, we thought our salary could cater for four, not knowing that we were going to six.

TheCable Lifestyle: How do you intend to utilise the donations for the kids and family?

Olayode: Education is paramount. Education first. I am educated and my husband too is educated. So we cannot leave our children behind. I cherish education a lot. The first thing that came to my mind was, how are we going to raise them? How are we going to cater for their education because I want the best for my kids? The first thing I wrote on my bed when they told me I was having four was education. I was telling my consultant that school fees are expensive now. And I do not like below-standard schools and all these standards school is money. With all the funds we have received, the first thing that we are going to do is education. To give them the best education that they need. And to lead them in God’s way.

TheCable: What message would you like to convey to the people who donated or offered support to your family?

Abiodun Olayode: I just want to thank those people who donated for us. We love them for the love they have shown my family. I am using them as a point of contact for people who are looking forward to this kind of blessing, that the Lord will bless them as they want. So people want four, five, or six.

TheCable: How has this new chapter in your life affected your work and daily responsibilities?

Abiodun Olayode: I know God will make everything beautiful in his way. I did not know I could work till the seventh month. Some people were asking me at the office if I was still working because I did not tell them what I was carrying until the news came in and they were like ‘Victoria, what happened?’ I was still working up until seven months that I told my boss ‘Ma, I do not think I can go on again’. My supervisor asked me to share anything with her. When I shared everything with her she exclaimed and said I should have told her. All my team members were lovely. They were praying for me. My team lead kept on calling me every day. They were calling if I was okay and telling me they were praying for me.

TheCable Lifestyle: Can you share any advice for other parents who might find themselves in a similar situation?

Olayode: Do not give up on God. If you are expecting one or two and you eventually have three or four, do not give up on God. I think one of the things that kept me going was that I did not give up on God. I told God that you gave me these kids you are going to take care of them. Because my salary and my husband’s salary cannot take care of three, talk less of four or six.

TheCable Lifestyle: Has the Lagos state government offered any support since the birth of the babies?

Olayode: I gave birth at Gbagada General Hospital. Concerning the government’s support or help, I have not received any. The only thing I have benefitted from is Ìlera Eko. Ìlera Eko is for everybody. If you subscribe to it even as an ordinary sick person you are attended to. It was not because I was pregnant with four babies. So far so good, I have not seen any from the government.

There was one foundation that called me and said they are ‘Jumeji Lọ’. It is a foundation by the first lady. They called me and interviewed me on the phone. They asked how many were my babies and I told them four. My consultant also told me she had sent my name to them telling them that she had a patient with four babies.

They did not reach out to me. My consultant would even ask me if they called me and I would say they did not call me. They had told me they were not promising anything. I was so surprised when they said that. Now, I have not heard anything from them.

I hope that the first lady (Remi Tinubu) will see this and come to my aid and come and support my family in any way they can. I hope my children will get scholarships. I kept on saying education is paramount to me. As I said, I am an outsourced staff at Sterling. I planned for one. But here we are having four. The first lady, I hope you are seeing this. Please come to my aid.