Nigerian actress and filmmaker Seleye Fubara has publicly addressed the widely circulated assumption that she is the biological sister of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, clarifying that while they share a powerful Ijaw surname, they are not related. The actress, speaking to media personality Dave of Africa, used the opportunity to advise the Governor on the lucrative potential of investing in the state’s entertainment and tourism sectors.
The confusion, according to Seleye Fubara, began when Siminalayi Fubara assumed the Governor’s office. She noted that many of her colleagues in the movie industry instantly congratulated her, with some even calling her “Governor’s sister” dueaking to the identical surname. She stated, “Lots of people think I and Governor Fubara are related, but the truth is we are not even from the same Local Government.” This clarification, released on Friday, November 21, 2025, settles the swirling industry gossip once and for all.
Seleye Fubara explained that the shared surname is a common cultural feature among people of the Ijaw ethnic group, which both she and the Governor belong to. She revealed that she is from Asari-Toru Local Government Area (LGA), while the Governor hails from Opobo/Nkoro LGA. Research confirms this separation: the Ijaw people, a major group in the Niger Delta, often share ancestral lineage or clan names that lead to identical surnames, even when individuals are not direct relatives and hail from geographically distinct areas.
The actress expressed that anyone who wishes to call her “Governor’s sister” is free to do so, emphasizing that the Governor is indeed her Ijaw brother in a communal and ethnic sense. This stance embraces the broader sense of kinship inherent in the Ijaw culture while drawing a clear line regarding direct family ties.
Beyond the kinship clarification, Seleye Fubara used the platform to advocate for the Rivers State entertainment and tourism industries. She specifically advised Governor Fubara to look into these sectors, arguing that they possess significant potential to generate substantial revenue for the state.
This call aligns with the documented commitment of the Governor’s administration to supporting the arts. The Fubara administration has previously demonstrated its support for the arts by contributing significantly to events like the 2024 Rivers International Film Festival and sponsoring surgeries for members of the Nollywood community.
By prioritizing entertainment and tourism, the actress argues, the government could leverage the creative energies of its youth and the city’s proven resilience—as recently celebrated by Dave of Africa following the State of Emergency—to diversify the economy and provide much-needed employment opportunities. The actress’s advice serves as a public reminder to the administration that supporting the entertainment industry is not just about welfare, but about maximizing the state’s potential for non-oil revenue generation.
