IYC warn over smear campaign, allege intimidation against leadership of National Association of Professional Divers

The umbrella body of Ijaw Youths Worldwide, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has warned against plot by some individuals to embark on smear campaign and deviant acts capable of throwing the fold of the National Association of Professional Divers and its associates in crisis.

The Chairman IYC Central zone, Comrade Perekosufa Ineife , in a statement issued on Wednesday accused some identified members of the National Association of Professional Divers and its associates led by one Mr Julius Ugwala and Thomas Uku who are of Urhobo origin and from Delta State Urohbo.

According to the IYC, the statement serves as a formal warning to one Mr Julius Ugwala and Thomas Uku who are both from Delta State Urohbo and their willing actors including diving companies and institutions, to cease and desist from all further harassment, defamation and intimidation directed towards our sons, Mr Yamboizibe Elwick Dickson the legitimate and rightful President of the National Association of Professional Divers and his associates.

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Comrade Perekosufa ineife in the statement warned that “it has come to our attention that Julius Ugwala, Thomas Uku and their cronies has been engaged in a continues pattern of behaviour designed to attack, Blackmail, and victimize our sons. This behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

“These pattern of Malicious behaviour towards our sons includes but not limited to Intimidation: Julius Ugwala and Thomas Uku hiding behind the instrument of Delta Chapter have continuously attacked, writing secret letters to companies and government agencies to disregard and not to recognise, Dickson Elwick as the President of the National Association of Professional Divers.”

The IYC also warned against alleged harassment and attempt to arrest the President, Mr Elwick Dickson for participating in the 2021 election in Delta State,” Coniving with Companies and Institutions to victimize and frustrate their career. Running them off jobs. Making false and defamatory statements and publications on national dailies and targeting them with petitions and campaigns of calumny”.

He also alleged that the ongoing intimidation include the initiation of Multiple Lawsuits in deferent state (Six Law suits) against the President, and threat to life of one of his close associates,” they are also targeting the associates of the president especially those from Bayelsa”

“It is well known that he, Julius Ugwala threatened to kill a Bayelsan in 2021 and the matter was reported to the DSS, Commissioner of police Bayelsa State, JTF headquarters Bayelsa State, and same time it was reported to the then Minister of State, Dr Festus Keyamo , who called for Investigation, after which Julius Ugwala begged and called for a peace meeting in Delta State”.

“Julius Ugwala was also the one that called Hydrove and told them not to attend to the compensation claim for the lose of his eye by this same Bayelsan who got injured in an accident while working with Hydrodive. And Hydrodive still have not compensated our son.

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“They also connived with Hydrodive to witch hunt the Bayelsa State Chairman by removing his name from a Job, and with the intervention of Ijaw Youth Council, the Bayelsa Chairman was restored.”

“And Now we have it in Good authority that Julius Ugwala has turned to BW TECH GLOBAL LOGISTICS SERVICES PVT LTD, a young diving company owned by one of our sons, victimizing and blackmailing him with all manner of damaging and false publications.”

” Most recently an accident occured in his state, Delta State where a victim died, but he decided to turn a blind eye, withholding the name of the company in his publication, whereas for the accident that took place in Lagos with BW TECH GLOBAL LOGISTICS SERVICES PVT LTD where the victim is alive and the company is making genuine efforts to improve his health, and has currently spent over 10 million on the young man, he has decided to make that a subject of media smear campaign to defame and bring down this young man’s company. Because he is perceived to be a Bayelsan and an associate of the President”

“In, one of his most recent news papers publication, Mr Julius Ugwala have called on Akwa-Ibom State government trying stear up tribal sentiment and interstate acrimony.These actions including Targeting the associates of the president especially those from Bayelsa State constitute a deliberate attempt to damage there reputation, frustrate and interfere with there career and especially with the administration and duties of the President”.

“The Ijaw Youth Council is calling on the Minister of Labour and Employment and the Permanent Secretary of the ministry to investigate the activities and excesses of this Mr julius Ugwala who is a member of the diving governing Board with your ministry, including using his private foundation for investigations, and at the same time calling on the Bayelsa State Government to come to the aid of Bayelsans in the Diving Industry because we have been seriously victimized and marginalized why they have been working in our territory”.

“We also demand that you immediately cease all harassment of our sons both online and offline. These includes any threatening or intimidating communications, Lawsuits, unending Petitions as well as spreading of false rumours”.

“Be advised that we will take all necessary steps to ensure that further harassment of our sons stops with immediate effect.We will be closely monitoring the situation. And will not hesitate to take further actions if this harassments continues”.