A Rivers State gubernatorial hopeful under the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Blessing Fubara (Snr), has admitted that the sitting Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is his brother.
However, he maintained that they operate on completely different political ideologies and dismissed claims that he is merely acting as a placeholder for him within the party.
This development follows the governor’s recent withdrawal from the Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries, a move his loyalists blamed on his lingering battle with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The governor’s exit sparked rumours that the senior Fubara was holding down the NDC ticket to pave the way for the governor’s eventual defection to the party.
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But while featuring on an interview program with Super FM 93.3 in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Fubara (Snr) shot down the placeholder narrative, stating that his own political history is well known to the public.
“Rivers people know me very well. I have always been passionate about the development of the people, not just the state. This is the time for Rivers people to take back their state.”
He explained that his decision to enter the 2027 governorship race had no connection to the governor’s withdrawal from the APC primaries, noting that his ambition to reshape the state’s politics was long-standing.
According to him, he threw his hat into the ring after extensive consultations across the state and in response to a “clarion call” from the people.
“When you talk about my entrance being linked to the governor’s political decisions, that is not correct. We are beginning a new conversation about the soul of Rivers State. All of this has been in the making. Through engagements and consultations, and given the call from across party lines and Rivers people at large, this process has been ongoing. Oh yes, I am Fubara. I am related to the governor, but we share different political ideologies, aspirations, and visions for Rivers State. As a son of Rivers State, Rivers South-East Senatorial District, and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, my concern is to rescue and restore the soul of Rivers State. Every great society must have a soul that guides its moral direction and shared destiny.”
Speaking on their political differences, he noted: “Talking about political ideology, we must put Rivers people on the right path. The platform we are building under the Nigerian Democratic Congress is, in my view, a credible opposition vehicle capable of changing the narrative and delivering better governance for Rivers people.”
When questioned on whether he had informed the governor about his governorship bid, the aspirant stated that details of his private discussions did not need to be made public.
“Coming out for this race involves extensive consultations. It is not something I need to publicise in detail. With due respect to His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, that is not information for the public. Consultations are ongoing and progressing well,” he said.
Read Also: Fubara Opens Up On Dumping APC For NDC
The NDC aspirant lamented that politics in Rivers State has long been centered around individuals rather than clear purposes, pointing to this as the root cause of the endless political friction and crises rocking the state.
He further argued that the oil-rich state has been dragged backward by divisive politics, which he says has reduced the system to a game of pure survival where energetic youths are forced to trade their loyalty just to get by.
Sharing his ultimate goal for the state, the business strategist and philanthropist stated: “I will encourage Rivers people to take advantage of this moment and let us do proper cleaning to take back our state. I am a strong believer that Rivers State can once again become the treasure base and pride of Nigeria and Africa at large. For so long, our politics has been built around personalities instead of purpose. This is what has given birth to the political drama and challenges we see today in Rivers State. It has also undermined the prospects, progress, and economic development of our dear state. Our politics has deteriorated into survival instead of strategy. You can see resilient, able-bodied men in our state, but there is little economic activity or sustainable opportunity to make people self-reliant. That is why people say ‘Oga is loyal’. This is one of the consequences of a system driven by survival politics, across party lines, among stakeholders, youth organisations, and genuine calls for structural change in Rivers State.”
