The Bayelsa State Centre for Youth Development has issued a formal statement disavowing claims by Mr. Doubara Kumokou that he represents the youths of Bayelsa State.
The clarification comes in response to a birthday message recently made public by Mr. Kumokou, in which he purportedly spoke on behalf of Bayelsa youths.
In a press release dated July 8, 2025, the Director General of the Centre, Comrade Robert Igali, JP, firmly stated that Mr. Kumokou holds no formal or informal mandate to speak for the youths of the state. The Centre emphasized that the right to personal expression does not extend to making unauthorized claims of collective representation.
Comrade Igali described Mr. Kumokou’s actions as inappropriate and misleading, warning that assuming a representative role without official backing undermines established structures of youth governance in Bayelsa. According to the Director General, only constitutionally recognized officials such as the Honourable Commissioner for Youth Development and the Director General of the Centre are empowered to speak for Bayelsa youths in any official capacity.
He stressed that the youth engagement structures in Bayelsa are active and functionally maintained, rejecting any suggestion that the youth body is without leadership or direction. Any attempt to bypass these structures, the statement noted, is not just a procedural violation but a potential source of disorder.
Comrade Igali strongly cautioned Mr. Kumokou against issuing further public messages, whether celebratory or otherwise, while posing as a voice of Bayelsa youths. He likened such unauthorized representation to “playing with fire in a dry season,” stating that it may seem harmless but could lead to significant consequences.
The statement characterized Mr. Kumokou’s actions as a distortion of the existing youth leadership framework and a threat to institutional discipline. It warned that similar infractions would be met with strict responses moving forward. Igali underscored that influence should not be built on falsehood and that real leadership stems from transparency, integrity, and due process.
The Centre appealed to Bayelsa youths to remain loyal to officially recognized leadership channels. It urged them to stay committed to a leadership culture based on truth, service, and legitimacy, rather than one defined by personal ambition or unauthorized declarations.
Comrade Igali reiterated that true leadership is earned through open and verifiable means, not assumed in secrecy or through unmandated statements. He assured the public that the Bayelsa State Centre for Youth Development remains dedicated to strengthening the integrity of youth institutions, enhancing youth participation, and ensuring that their voices are heard only through legitimate and recognized representatives.
The press statement concluded with a renewed call for discipline, unity, and responsible engagement among the youth of Bayelsa State. The Centre affirmed its zero-tolerance stance on any form of misrepresentation and reaffirmed its duty to maintain order and authenticity in youth leadership structures.
The document was officially signed by Comrade Robert Igali, JP, the Director General of the Bayelsa State Centre for Youth Development.
