Barr. Igbeta Ayebakuro Ph.D, reacts to questions on Comr. Doubara Kumokou’s defection to the NDC today.
Barr. Ayebakuro Ph.D, the Secretary General of the Prosperity Youths Coalition (PYC) has reacted to the rumored defection of the estwhile Director General of the group Senr-Comr. Doubara Kumokou to the newly formed Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
In a chat with newsmen Barr. Ayebakuro Igbeta express that he ordinarily does not like to comment on issues such as the defection of his former boss at the PYC, but given that his phone has been buzzed with callers inquiring about his personal stand in the issue, he has no choice but to say one or two things.
Igbeta states clearly and unambiguously that prior to his late Boss Lawrence’s sudden death, the late deputy governor has consistently and emphatically committed his loyalty to the Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Sen. Douye Diri and had stressed that all his boys and followers must pledge that unconditional loyalty to the Governor and the Prosperity administration, so even in death he Igbeta heeds strongly to the instructions of his late boss and remains solid and unshakenly fierce in loyalty and commitment to Douye Diri and the prosperity administration. This loyalty also implies a total submission to the will of the Governor who by God’s grace is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa state, thus APC is the only political party known to members and leaders of the Prosperity Youths Coalition (now defunct), the political decisions of one person in the group, according to the scribe does not tell the direction of every other person, as everybody has his or her right to opinion, freedom of thoughts/conscience and association.
“I heard about Doubara Kumokou’s defection to the NDC, to me, it doesn’t bother me in any way, because the man has every right to decide his own political future and he has not personally informed me or neither did we have a discussion on the subject.
However, I respect his decisions and wish him well in his chosen adventure, but for me, I served a man for fourteen years, and he instructed me to give my best and all to the success of the Prosperity Government, and that instruction is that which I vow to honor to the last minute of the administration” Igbeta is quoted in part.
The very vocal Legal practitioner and youths rights advocate went on to recount that his support for the Prosperity administration started with its formative days when everyone tends to run away from this Gov.Diri/Ewhrudjakpo’s project, revealing that back in 2019 in the build up to the guber, the PDP had only two main youths based bodies namely the Diri/Lawrence Youths Project headed by himself and the Diri/Lawrence Youths Network which was headed at the time by Ebilade Ekerefe, so, to him Prosperity administration is not a choice, it is bond especially woven by myriads of mixed emotions ranging from the gloomy & uncertain moments following the INEC’s declaration of the then APC candidate Hon. David Lyon then to the Supreme Court judgment that restored Diri’s mandate, hence the administration has become a family therefore he cannot just be seen abandoning this child he has always trained & nurtured right from childbirth, due to perceived temporary discomforts.
Igbeta, expressed that while the rest executives, directors and members of the PYC (defunct) acknowledge the right of their former boss as an adult to make convincing political decisions for himself, himself and the likes of several other Directors and members of the group who have gained recognition in the form of one appointment, engagement or the other, remain rock solid with Diri and the APC.
“Diri lead and we follow, if Gov.Diri says jump – We only ask how high, such is the intensity of our loyalty in line with the late Lawrence’s directive”.
Furthermore, Igbeta stated that he and other true followers of the Late Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo do not have any reason to rigmarole the political scene as the present Deputy Governor, His Excellency Pastr. Dr. Peter Akpe has been more than a father to all Lawrence’s boys, family and followers, Akpe has carried along with him Lawrence’s followers and recognized most of our sacrifices with gratitude, therefore no one is bothered about looking for a new place to pitch tent, Comr. Doubara is the Governor’s brother according to Igbeta, and that whatever informed him to join the NDC maybe personal, which at the appropriate time will be settled amongst their family ties, and that does not in any way hinder either he (Igbeta) nor the rest members of PYC from continuing with the activities of the organization in one form or the other.
