•The Travails Of SIMINIALAYE FUBURA
The electioneering campaigns in Rivers State for the 2023 general elections is on the way and candidates are moving from one location to another canvassing for votes. The governorship candidate for Peoples Democratic party (PDP), Siminialaye Joseph Fubara is an experienced retired top civil servant whose last duty post was Accountant General of Rivers state. From being a close confidante of the present administration headed by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike as he was the Accountant in charge of Rivers State House of assembly and later Accountant of the government house administration before he was made Accountant General of Rivers State all under the government of Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. This is relationship between the incumbent Governor of Rivers State and his most preferred successor in office, the 2023 governorship candidate for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Siminialaye Joseph Fubara.
While there were speculations of probable governorship aspirants who were jostling to be elected as governorship candidate of PDP but from the blues, Governor Wike few days to the governorship primary election called on the elders of PDP forum to endorse Siminialaye Fubara as his choice of governorship candidate. Few months before this endorsement, the ombudsman Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC had published on national newspapers that Siminialaye Fubara and three other civil servants in Rivers State government are wanted for N117bn alleged fraud with another N438bn allegation against the Accountant General of Rivers State and other civil servants as published in several news outlets.
Struggling for acceptance and for fear of molestation by security agencies for questioning on the several allegations of financial fraud, the PDP Rivers State governorship candidate Siminialaye Fubara has not been seen campaigning alone or consulting the people of Rivers state without the presence of his master who prompted him to vie for governorship seat in the 11th March, 2023 governorship election in Rivers State. At every public outing of the PDP governorship candidate, there must be Governor Wike giving him security back up by being present with him and sitting by his side. At a point, it was alleged that he was living in the private residence of the executive Governor of Rivers State all in a bid to avoid being harassed by political opponents or security agencies irrespective of the fact that it is stated that Siminialaye Fubara had obtained legal judgement against EFCC on the alleged fraudulent allegations published with his photograph and that of three other civil servants. This reporter is yet to obtain Court records where such Court Ruling against EFCC in favour of Siminialaye Fubara has been documented. So, Rivers All Progressives Congress APC governorship candidate, Pastor Architect Tonye Cole in an electioneering campaign accused Siminialaye Fubara to go solo and independently campaign like a free citizen of Rivers State like him.
Irked by this allegation of fraud against his most preferred governorship candidate Siminialaye Fubara, Governor Wike went on to employ the services of over 500,000 political aides who are being paid N20,000.00 monthly as stipend to cover the 319 electoral wards and the polling units with each given a standing Order to get extra five Voters for PDP candidates except for the Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar as he Governor Wike will in January, 2023 announce his preferred Presidential candidate who his supporters will cast their votes for on 25th of February, 2023.
Rivers State electorate from every indication as investigated by this reporter, have different opinions on third Term interest of Governor Wike as seen in his chosen governorship candidate Siminialaye Fubara. And baring every political development Rivers State electorate may vote against Siminialaye Fubara as a protest against the term agenda of the incumbent Governor of Rivers State by voting one of the other top contenders such as Accord Party Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Social Democratic Party (SDP) Senator Magnus Abe and All Progressives Congress, APC Pastor Architect Tonye Cole.
-Emeka Amaefula
+234(0)8111813069
