Siminalayi Fubara: Standing up to a godfather who has exceeded his bounds

Recent days have brought into sharp focus the growing tension between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his political Godfather, Nyesom Wike, who also served as his predecessor.

Wike had personally groomed Fubara as the ruling party’s candidate in the 2023 Rivers State governorship election. Despite working at odds with his party at the national level, Wike ensured that Fubara, his chosen candidate, emerged as the governor of the state.

Initially, the relationship appeared harmonious during Fubara’s early days as governor. However, it soured as Governor Fubara resisted complying with his predecessor’s directives, asserting that Wike was not affording him the autonomy to manage the state’s affairs as he saw fit.

This dispute reached its peak on Monday as some yet to be identified individuals instituted an arson against the state assembly facility, coupled with a plot to impeach Fubara as governor due to his refusal to comply with his political mentor’s wishes.

Amid this political upheaval, PoliticsNow is casting a spotlight on the Rivers State Governor who is pitting his political influence against that of his mentor.

Fubara, born in Opobo Town within the Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, began his educational journey at Opobo Primary School and later attended Comprehensive Secondary School in Opobo. He pursued a degree in Accountancy at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, and subsequently earned an MBA and an MSc in 2013 and 2016, respectively, from the University of Port Harcourt.

Sim embarked on his career in 2003 as a principal accountant with the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board.

He steadily climbed the ranks, becoming the director of finance and accounts at the State’s government house in 2015, and ultimately rising to the position of permanent secretary in March 2020. His appointment as the accountant general of Rivers State on December 23, 2020, marked a pivotal moment in his career.

Fubara held this role until May 2022 when he secured victory in the People’s Democratic Party governorship primaries for the 2023 general elections. Notably, he is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management and a Fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.

In May 2022, Fubara, along with 58 other government officials, were declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for their alleged involvement in a N435 billion fraud.

He was also wanted, alongside four other Rivers State government officials, for a N117 billion fraud. The charges filed by the EFCC included allegations of criminal conspiracy, money laundering, misappropriation of public funds, and abuse of office.