Former Oyo State Deputy Governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Iyiola Oladokun, has revealed that he was so sickly as a toddler that people advised his late mother, Mrs Alice Oladokun, to abandon him.
Oladokun, however, said his mother refused to heed the advice and instead cared for him with unwavering love and compassion until he grew into adulthood.
The former deputy governor made the emotional revelation while speaking with journalists shortly after the burial of his mother in Ado-Awaye, Oyo State, on Saturday.
Recalling his childhood, Oladokun described his mother as the pillar of his life and credited her care for his survival.
“She was everything to me. When I was a toddler, I was so sickly, and it got to a stage that people advised her to throw this baby away. But her love and compassion made her nurture me until adulthood. God Almighty answered her prayers, and I survived,” he said.
Oladokun said the care he received from his mother laid the foundation for the good health he enjoys today.
“People have asked me when I last visited a hospital. When I saw a doctor about two months ago, he asked whether I had ever been admitted to a hospital. I told him, ‘Not to my knowledge, apart from when I was a toddler,’ and even that did not happen because there was no hospital in Ado-Awaye then.
“So when people ask me how I have coped, I believe it is because of the care and nurturing I received as a little child. That care and compassion are still working wonders in my life,” he added.
The APC chieftain said his mother had unwavering faith in both God and his future, believing he would achieve greatness despite the challenges he faced as a child.
“She believed so much in God and in me that He would make something great out of my life. I give glory to God that everything He did in my life happened while she was still alive,” he said.
He added that before her passing, they both had the opportunity to bid each other farewell.
“She was a very cheerful and easy-going person because, as I said in the church, both my mother and I had the opportunity to bid each other goodbye. I told her, ‘God has been so good to you; release yourself when it is time.’
“As the Reverend also mentioned during the service, I told her, ‘You have been taking care of me, but God will take care of me and others.’ We were only two biological children, but she raised nearly a dozen of her relatives’ children,” he said.
Oladokun described his late mother as generous and accommodating, recalling that her home was always open to friends and visitors.
“As a child, my mother warmly welcomed anyone I introduced to her as a friend, whether male or female, regardless of whether I was around or not.
“My mother was so generous that, as a beer seller, she prepared grasscutter meat for her customers and never collected money from my friends for the meat,” he said.
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He also praised her sacrifices towards his education, noting that she often put aside her personal enjoyment to ensure he had the opportunity to succeed.
“She sacrificed her social life for my education to the extent that whenever she was invited to social events, she would simply say, ‘I will join you later.’
“I give glory to God because she eventually returned to her social life, and God sustained her until her last day,” he added.
Commenting on the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo state , Oladokun expressed optimism that the victims would soon regain their freedom.
“Regarding the situation in the country and what we are experiencing in Oyo State, I believe God Almighty will intervene and grant freedom to everyone in captivity so they can reunite with their families in good health.
“Were it not for this unfortunate situation, many of my age mates would have attended this ceremony,” he said.
Earlier, a funeral service was held in honour of the late Mrs Alice Oladokun, the Otun Iyalode of Ado-Awaye, who died on February 7, 2026, at the age of 101.
The service, held at Immanuel Baptist Church, Ado-Awaye, attracted dignitaries, family members and community leaders.
Delivering the sermon, Reverend Edward Alabi of Molete Baptist Church, Ibadan, praised the late matriarch for the values she instilled in her son.
“You may not know Mama intimately, but you know her child; that child reflects the image and values of the parent.
“Looking at the calibre of people present today, you can appreciate the investment Mama made in the life of her son, former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Samson Iyiola Oladokun.
“You can see the kind of personality he became, as well as the values reflected in his wife and children. This is a reflection of the life Mama lived during her 101 years,” he said.
The cleric noted that testimonies from residents of Ado-Awaye reflected the enormous impact the late matriarch had on the community and beyond.
“The whole town is agog. Everyone is sharing testimonies of the profound impact she had on the lives of people in Ado-Awaye and beyond, especially in the life of her son, Chief Iyiola Oladokun, who has remained a colossus in the legal profession.
“From the days of Bola Ige Chambers till today, his influence has continued to tower in the legal community.
We thank God for that influence because many of his contemporaries are distinguished judges and Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
“The calibre of people present today reflects the legacy Mama left behind.
“It is a challenge to all of us that what truly matters in life is not the wealth or material possessions we accumulate, but the legacy and the good name we leave behind,” Alabi added.
Among the dignitaries present were former Oyo State Deputy Governor and APC Chairman in the state, Chief Alake Adeyemo; APC South-West Publicity Secretary, Chief Ayo Afolabi; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; APC governorship aspirant, Dr Wasiu Lam-Adesina; the Alado of Ado-Awaye; the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Oyebola Adeyeri III; former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Niran Alarape; and several other prominent personalities.