Imeko, Ogun State – In a burial that will be spoken of for generations, the ancient town of Imeko stood still as Nigeria’s political and traditional elite converged to pay final respects to Alhaja Kuburat Agbeke Isiaka, the revered Iya Adinni of Imekoland and matriarch of the illustrious Isiaka dynasty — mother of two-time Ogun governorship candidate and serving federal lawmaker, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI).
The roll call of dignitaries was breathtaking:
- Former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (GCON)
- Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun (MFR)
- Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele
- Former Governors Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso
- Former Deputy Governor, Senator Salmot Badru
- Serving and former National Assembly members
- Top APC and PDP chieftains
- Heads of federal parastatals, captains of industry, and a constellation of first-class traditional rulers
It was, without exaggeration, an A-list convergence rarely seen outside Abuja.
Yet the most enduring moment was not the glamour. It was a single, powerful testimonial that gave rise to a nickname now permanently etched into the Nigerian political lexicon: “Mr. Reliable”.
Delivering the tribute, Professor Yemi Osinbajo revealed a story many were hearing publicly for the first time:
“Let me tell you how I first heard of Gboyega Isiaka. My younger brother Akin, who served in Ogun State under Otunba Gbenga Daniel, came to me many years ago and said: ‘If you are looking for a reliable man, this is the man.’ Those were his exact words — and I never forgot them.
“Over the years, GNI has proven again and again to be focused, dependable, and utterly reliable. In the world of politics, when someone is described as reliable, believe me — he is reliable indeed.”
The crowd erupted. Phones were raised. The phrase “Mr. Reliable” swept through the arena like wildfire — and it has stuck ever since.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and Senator Kwankwaso all echoed the same sentiment: Gboyega Isiaka’s strength of character is no accident. It is the direct inheritance from the extraordinary woman lying in state before them — a devout Muslim leader, community pillar, and mother who instilled integrity long before politics ever came calling.
In an era where Nigerian politics is too often defined by duplicity and betrayal, the public celebration of a politician renowned for keeping his word felt almost revolutionary.
As one elder whispered as the ceremony ended: “In a country that sometimes feels short of heroes, Imeko just showed us that character can still be the loudest currency.”
Alhaja Kuburat Agbeke Isiaka may have been laid to rest. Still, the values she instilled in her son — and the testament to those values delivered by a former Vice President — will echo far beyond the hills of Imeko.
Mr. Reliable is more than a nickname now. It is a promise kept, a legacy honoured, and a new standard for leadership in Ogun State and beyond.
