Siminalayi Fubara, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State for 2023 general elections could simply be described as a product of intense search for a suitable successor to the walkaholic and projects-driven Governor Nyesom Wike.
The choice of Sir Siminalayi Fubara, a Knight of St. Christopher (KSC) Order of the Anglican Commission is informed by multiple reasons.
First, there is the necessary need to ensure that there is a paradigm shift of power from the old brigade to the youths that have the energy to pilot the onerous task of governance. The fruit of this thinking finds a better expression in the landmarks and developmental strides of His Excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, a youth. The world is no longer ruled by Age but by ideas facilitated by the Digital era of our time.
Second, democracy is all about equity, justice and fairness to all, treating the majority and minority alike. The principle of democracy calls for fair representation of the minority tribes, the women, the rich, the poor, the physically challenged, etc, in the spirit of justice and equity.
Hence, the elders of the PDP in Rivers State decided to reinforce the earlier agreed formular that power be rotated in the state along the lines of Senatorial Districts.
The Rivers West Senatorial District having taken the first shot, followed by Rivers East, the next turn should ideally go to Rivers South East, the PDP elders reasoned.
Drawing from this, and irrespective of all other odds to the contrary, and not minding whose ox is gored, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, from Rivers South-East was massively chosen as the Man whose head the cap fits by the majority of the party’s delegates at the keenly contested Rivers State PDP Governorship primary election at the famous Obi Wali Conference Centre, 25th May, 2022.
Born in Opobo town, Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara started his educational career at Opobo Primary School, where he completed his First School Leaving Certificate in 1986.
He proceeded to Comprehensive Secondary School, Opobo town, obtaining the West African School Certificate in 1992.
Sir Fubara, an Accountant and technocrat of note, served as Rivers State Accountant-General from December 23, 2020 to May 2022.
He held the post alongside that of Permanent Secretary of the State’s Ministry of Finance. Before his appointment as Accountant-General, he was Permanent Secretary in charge of Government House from March 3, 2020. He was earlier the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Government House from 2015 till his appointment as Permanent Secretary.
He started his career in 2003 as Principal Accountant with the Rivers State Post Primary Schools Board. He became Chief Accountant of the Ministry of Works in 2005 and in 2006, was deployed to the Office of Accountant General as assistant to the Accountant General.
Fubara holds a Master of Science Degree in Finance (2016) and Master of Business Administration (2013) both from the University of Port Harcourt Business School. He also holds Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting from Enugu State University of Science and Technology. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the former Rivers State University of Science and Technology (now Rivers State University).
His professional qualifications/affiliations include: Fellow of Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Fellow of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) and member, Chartered Institute of Forensic and Investigative Auditors (CIFIA). He has attended several professional conferences, seminars, workshops and training programmes.
These include: Nigeria National Training Workshops on Public Finance Management at the Federal Treasury Academy, Orozo, Abuja (2012), Rivers State Government Ministry of Finance Training Programme on International Public Sector Accounting Standards and Financial Euromoney Training (2012), and Rivers State Government/Transglobal Business Solution Limited Training Workshop on Development and Performance Measurement in Rivers State Public Finance Sector (2013).
He also holds the prestigious traditional chieftaincy title of Amaopu-Senibo of Opobo Kingdom, where he has worked with local outreach groups on poverty alleviation, skills acquisition, scholarships and other empowerment programmes.
Sir Siminalayi is married and has three children to the glory of God.
