The Man Siminalayi Fubara: Upbringing, Rise To Power, Political Battles, Future Prospects

The man, Siminalayi Joseph Fubara was born in Opobo Town in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State on January 28, 1975. This means that he is 49 years today. At birth, he was christened “Siminalayi” which, in Opobo-Ibani-Ijaw dialect, translates as “the poor may beget the rich”.
He is the second of five children and the first son of late Joseph Fubara, a former soldier who had an overseas training tour of duty, and late Love Fubara, a civil servant, who worked with the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation. Both late Joseph and his wife, Love, were descendants of Fubara and Jaja families of Opobo Town. Siminalayi is married to Valerie Fubara. They are blessed with three children.
He attended Opobo Primary School where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1986, and Comprehensive Secondary School, Opobo, where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1992. After his secondary education, Siminalayi moved to the former Rivers State University of Science and Technology (now Rivers State University), where he obtained a degree in Business Education with specialisation in accountancy.
Not satisfied, he also obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting from Enugu State University of Science and Technology. He has a Master of Science Degree in Finance and a Master of Business Administration, both from the University of Port Harcourt Business School.
His professional qualifications/affiliations include Fellow of Nigeria Institute of Management (FNIM), Fellow of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (FCNA) and Fellow, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (FCTI). He also attended several professional conferences, seminars, workshops and training programmes, including the Federal Government of Nigeria National Training Workshops on Public Finance Management at the Federal Treasury Academy, Orozo, Abuja; Rivers State Ministry of Finance Training Programme on International Public Sector Accounting Standards and Financial Euromoney Training; and Rivers State Government/Transglobal Business Solution Limited Training Workshop on Development and Performance Measurement in Rivers State Public Finance Sector.
Siminalayi enjoyed a long, meritorious career in the state civil service, gradually rising through the ranks until he was appointed the Accountant General of the state in 2020. Indeed, his service career began in 2003 when he was appointed as a classroom teacher by the Rivers State Post-Primary Schools Board, and posted to Comprehensive High School, Alesa-Eleme, in Eleme Local Government Area. He taught there for five years, and transferred his service in 2007 from the Board to the Ministry of Finance as a Senior Accountant. From that rank, he was promoted to the position of Principal Accountant. He was later promoted as Chief Accountant, Assistant Director, Deputy Director and Director. He became Permanent Secretary, then rose to the pinnacle of his career as Accountant General. He served the state for about 19 years, before his retirement to serve in higher public office as Governor.
Siminalayi outwardly is reserved, calm, smart, calculated but meticulous. He remains socially connected to every segment of society. He is a very strong community and grassroots mobiliser. He is a man of the people, well-loved, and appreciated by the grassroots. He belongs to several social organisations, including his alma maters both at the tertiary and secondary levels. He is highly regarded for his humanity, respect for elders, and above all, his altruism. He is also generally acknowledged for the enormous respect he has for Rivers elders and frontline leaders, irrespective of their political leanings. He is peace-loving, detribalised, compassionate and benevolent.
In addition to his inclusive and generous personal philanthropic efforts, his invaluable service to the community grew from earlier volunteer work to subsequently attracting government projects to, and directing personal efforts at the development of Opobo Kingdom and the entire local government area. It is in appreciation of this deep commitment to community development that he was conferred with the prestigious traditional title of Amaopusenibo of Opobo Kingdom, a chieftaincy title that elevated him to dine and wine with Kings and Queens.
His spirit of charity and philanthropy has compelled him to assiduously work with local outreach groups, among them SWITCH-ON, Caregivers Humanitarian Outreach, on poverty alleviation, skills acquisition, scholarships and other empowerment programmes. This has, in the past three years, spurred empowerment deliverables through which many underprivileged people have gained means of livelihood.
After a pioneer programme in 2019 and palliative efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, SWITCH-ON launched a special programme for women in October 2021 tagged: Women Empowerment Programme. This was followed in July 2022 by the implementation of the Men Empowerment Programme that reached over 430 beneficiaries.
Siminalayi is a devoted Christian of the Anglican faith. Fortuitously growing up with the Anglican Church in Opobo Town just a few meters from his home, Siminalayi religiously maintained his true life of faith. He devoted his life to selfless service to humanity, committing to saving many lives for Christ, undertaking evangelism and service to the church. To encourage him, in 2020, he was bestowed with the prestigious Knight of Saint Christopher (KSC) order of the Anglican Communion of Nigeria by the Evo Diocese of the church in recognition of his service to humanity and the Communion. He is also a sponsor and Patron of the Women Prayer Network in Opobo Town, dedicated to supplicating for peace and progress of the town and its people.
Siminalayi’s long-standing involvement in politics has essentially been that of a staunch democrat who believes in the power of the people. This explains his unrelenting focus on the grassroots. He is a strong member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State. He underwent mentorship with the former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and other great Rivers leaders. At one-time when some party leaders in his Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area deserted the PDP, he picked up the mantle and rebuilt it, eventually becoming the party leader in the area. His leadership brought cohesion and unity and strengthened the party in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area. He is a patron of Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) in Opobo/Nkoro.
He has taken his deep party loyalty and zeal across the state, following his emergence as the governorship candidate of the party for the 2023 general election. This has served in bringing back and uniting several party heavyweights both in his local government area and across the state. Siminalayi represents the younger generation of politicians in Nigeria.
He campaigned as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer in Rivers State with a governance slogan: Consolidation & Continuity of the New Rivers Vision. He is on a mission to consolidate the great works of Mr. Projects in the areas of Infrastructure, Health Care, Education, Security, and Investment Opportunities. This is why he said in his “Blueprint for Consolidating the NEW Rivers Vision”, “We cannot afford to slow down…We will sustain the tempo of transformation and take the state to new levels of sustainable peace, security, progress and prosperity”.
Since May 29, 2023, when he took over the mantle of governance of the state, Siminalayi has not disappointed Rivers people. In his inaugural address, he said: “Fellow Rivers people, today, you have given me a great responsibility to preside over our state as your Governor for the next four years. I am genuinely touched by the spotlight and humbled by the honour. And this I will be the Governor of all Rivers people.
“You have invested your trust in us, and the question is how we can provide effective good governance to meet your hopes and expectations. Our response is simple and majestic. By today’s mandate, you have asked for continuity in leadership and like a strong relay team, we have accepted the baton to continue the race.
“Together, we embody our collective aspirations for a greater and prosperous Rivers State, a state that provides equal opportunities for all, a strong, compassionate and progressive state that protects and enables everyone to live in security, comfort, and prosperity. We will provide that strong, determined, focused, purposeful and responsible leadership. Though enormous, we assure you we are equal to the tasks and responsibilities ahead”, he added.
Siminalayi hit the ground running. Within his first 100 days in office, he delivered more than 21 infrastructure projects across the state. He flagged off the multibillion naira Port Harcourt Ring Road, running across six local government areas, with one major bridge, six flyovers, and about 12 roundabouts. He has also flagged off the construction of 20,000 low-income housing scheme at Mbodo-Aluu, being funded and handled by TAF Africa Global. The government also signed contract for a new central spare parts market with GOSH Project Limited. Many infrastructure projects are ongoing.
The government also is working to revive the Rivers Songhai Farm and others in Andoni, Buguma, Etche, Gokana, Khana, among others. Projects in education, health have either been completed or ongoing. The civil service has been reengineered, with the State Secretariat bouncing back to life, and the hopes of civil servants of better days ahead being restored. The government has already set aside N4billion for micro-business activities with SMEs, and other empowerment programmes in the offing. The State Executive Council approved the over N800billion 2024 Appropriation Bill, “Budget of Renewed Hope, Consolidation and Continuity”, on December 11. The 5th State Executive Council meeting also deliberated on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which is usually a precursor to discussing the budget, with N412billion projected for capital expenditure, while recurrent expenditure has N361billion and N21billion as reserve. On December 13, the government complied with a court order, and demolished a section of the Assembly impacted by the explosion and fire that engulfed the facility on October 29, 2023.
But Siminalayi’s pace of delivery of the dividends of good governance and democracy has been hampered by the political crisis that had engulfed the state since October, 2023. This is just one of the many battles he has fought since winning the election and becoming governor. The first was the contest over his victory on March 18, 2023. Many political parties and their candidates, including All Progressives Congress (APC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Labour Party (LP), Accord Party, African People’s Movement (APM), and a host of others, stormed the election petitions tribunal to contest Siminalayi’s victory at the poll. But one by one, all the cases were dismissed. Their appeals at the appellate court were also dismissed on Tuesday, November 28.
Even after they lost, Tonye Cole, Labour Party’s Beatrice Itubo, Accord Party’s Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, and APM appealed again at the Supreme Court. However, Itubo, and Lulu-Briggs joined Magnus Abe’s earlier move, to withdraw their cases for the peace and good governance of the state. Just last Thursday, January 25, the Supreme Court dismissed Cole’s appeal, and declared Siminalayi duly elected Governor of the state.
But the most potent battle of all is the internal crisis in the PDP, triggered by the failed impeachment attempt by some 25 members of the state House of Assembly on October 30, 2023. The battle, spearheaded by the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, Dumle Maol, and others, over inexplicable causes/reasons, remains the last fight God has already taken over, and will win for the Governor, just as He did in other cases against Siminalayi. Even in the midst of the internal political wrangling in the PDP, and the purported defection of 25 members to the APC, the Governor still enjoys the total trust, confidence and loyalty of majority of Rivers people. On December 18, President Bola Tinubu brokered an 8-point peace agreement, designed to set the pace for the settlement of the political crisis in the state. A very peace-loving Siminalayi has since commenced the implementation of the resolutions in the Presidential Directives. As at the last count, just about one of the items in the agreement has not been implemented.
Indeed, the Governor has since moved on. In his Christmas Message to Rivers people, he pledged to fully implement the comprehensive presidential peace agreement aimed at resolving the ongoing political crisis in the state. He said, “As a principal participant in the entire saga, I have taken some time to study the terms therein, and have come to the conclusion that the peace pact is not as bad as it is being portrayed by those genuinely opposed to it. Accordingly, I reaffirm my acceptance of the presidential peace proclamation and my commitment to implementing both the spirit and letters of the declaration in such a way and manner that will restore political stability to our dear state without compromising the collective interest of our people and our cherished and shared democratic values. Already, both parties have demonstrated some good faith in the implementation process with the withdrawal of the purported impeachment notice on their part, and the release of hitherto withheld allowances of the members of the state House of Assembly by the government,” he stated.
“By the grace of God, 2024 will witness a speedy transformation of our State with the completion of most of our projects and programmes, such as sections of the Port Harcourt Ring Road, the Andoni section of the Unity Road, the Ahoada-Omoku Road, the Emohua-Degema Road, etc, and the commencement of many other laudable projects, both in infrastructure and human capital development, as outlined in our 2024 budget,” Fubara declared.
On New Year’s Eve, Siminalayi stated that he was not pretentious about his commitment to providing quality leadership to transform the state to a prosperous, peaceful and investment-friendly environment for businesses to thrive. He explained that even though those fighting his administration want to dampen the spirit of Rivers people and forcefully truncate the pace of development in the state, they have failed at every attempt to distract the government. He, therefore, encouraged Rivers people not to be disheartened over the ongoing crisis because nothing would stop him from steering the affairs of the state successfully, adding: “What they want is this red biro but it is still with me. We are the winners because we are still signing with the red biro. As long as we are signing with the red biro, development will continue in Rivers State.”
Siminalayi emphasised that nothing will stop his administration from getting to its destination because its foundation was laid solidly in God who alone would give the grace to complete the process of building, stressing that there is already a designed development agenda and level of progress determined for Rivers State in 2024.
Just last Thursday, while reacting the Supreme Court judgement, Siminalayi, once again, declared his resolve to remain committed to the purpose for which he was elected, and assured that he would not allow anything to distract governance. According to the statement, the governor said his triumph at the Supreme Court has laid to rest the legal battles that added to the distractions his administration grappled with in the last eight months.
“About an hour ago, the Supreme Court revalidated our mandate in the election. It is a victory for the entire state. It is important for us to note that we need this victory to consolidate the purpose of governance. Prior, we have had a few distractions here and there. And the good news that came to us this morning is a refreshing strength that will encourage us to continue the good works in governance.”
The governor called on everyone to join hands with his administration to build a competitive state that would be reckoned with as truly prosperous in all ramifications. ”We have a dream of making it a highly competitive state that will measure, if not up to Lagos, but close to becoming like Lagos. We can only achieve this in an atmosphere of peace. So, I am calling on everyone, not just on our internal issue but those members from other parties, the issue is settled, come and let’s build the Rivers State of our dream. ”We will continue to protect and provide the basic needs of governance to everyone living and doing business in Rivers State.”
Again on Friday, January 26, Siminalayi told Rivers people to expect accelerated growth and development of the state with the legal battles challenging his elections now over. He noted that the litigation experience was a tortuous journey that had now validated the choice and eventually confirmed the mandate freely given to him by the electorate. ”It is with a great joy and total deference to the Almighty God that I address you after a tortuous legal journey following the governorship election in our state. It is with great nostalgia I reflect on your trust and the absolute confidence you bestowed on us on that fateful March 18, 2023 when you gave us your mandate. Even with that overwhelming support, we had to go through litigation to validate your choice and confirmation of your mandate to us. We are deeply elated by the verdict of the Supreme Court of our dear nation, which has finally affirmed our victory. I owe this victory, not to my efforts or our ingenuity but to God and to you the good people of Rivers State.”
The governor said the Supreme Court ruling was an immeasurable energizer to accelerate governance with utmost sense of commitment for the benefit of all Rivers people irrespective of political persuasion or ethnic affiliation. ”In this regard, what is important to us is the accelerated growth and development of our dear state. Now that the litigations are over, we call on the opposition political parties in the state to join hands with our government to build the Rivers State of our dreams. I extend the olive branch to my contenders and all others who went through the hog and or who withdrew their cases for the love of the state. I believe we are all Rivers people and by virtue of that brotherhood, let us therefore, put aside our differences and bond together to build one indivisible and greater Rivers State that posterity will remember us for.”
As the governor of the state, Siminalayi vowed to achieve a greater Rivers State continuing on the path taken in the last seven months of his administration. ”My administration has recorded remarkable achievements in the areas of human capital development, social investment engineering, infrastructural development, micro and macro-economic advancement and sustainable socio-economic development across sectors. In addition, we have made some substantial progress in infrastructure, housing, security, urban renewal development as well as rural healthcare. We intend to sustain the tempo and expand the development net in the great ride to prosperity in our state”.
Perhaps, there is no better way to celebrate the Governor’s Birthday than to say that despite the many battles, booby-traps, landmines, and obstacles placed on his way, Siminalayi has always overcome, and will continue to confound and put his detractors and enemies to shame, even as he cruises through successive victories and milestones as Governor of Rivers State. He knows that millions of Rivers people and others resident and doing business in the state trust his ability and capacity to govern the state, protecting and defending them at all times, and providing them with the enabling environment to excel and prosper in all their genuine and legitimate dealings.
Happy Birthday Governor Siminalayi Joseph Fubara!

Nelson Chukwudi