24-Hour Ultimatum Issued by Lawrence Steven for Reinstatement to WhatsApp Group

Mr. Steven Lawrence has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the admins of the Arogbo Clan IYC WhatsApp group, threatening legal action against the group.

The statement reads in full below;

My unlawful removal from the IYC Ondo State clans WhatsApp group by disgruntled elements:

By Lawrence Steven

I found with dismay yesterday at about 1:05pm, in expression of my right that I posted some eventful pictures of the national President of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Dr Tari Alaye Theophilus in the group who was marking his birthday in conjunction with his one year in office anniversary that soon after my attempt to have screen-time again, but only to discover that I had been removed from the WhatsApp group by one – Aluta Comrade (SPARTAN) at the instruction and instigation of one Mr. Toibokumoh Arigidi also known as ‘community’ simply because of the posts.

I would like to set the record straight and make it abundantly clear that, it is no longer news that our reverend council (IYC) had two factions within the council, and this does not start with the current handlers of the council but, rather had started from the era of Snr. Comr. Eric Omare and Snr. Comr. Oweilaemi Rowland, and also snowballed to the zonal level, between Eric Kpemi and Frank Akiefa and now currently between Dr Tari Alaye Theophilus led faction and Comr. Jonathan Lokpobiri led IYC which is now being dealt with by the Court in Port-harcourt in suit No. PHC/2318/2023.

I must take retraint to go into details of the suit as the matter is before the court, and therefore is not allowed to be publicly discussed.

However, I must take a clue from the suit in order to allay ignorant anxiety by those disgruntled elements who sent the said Aluta Comrade (SPARTAN) on fool’s arrand to remove me from the group that, Dr Tari Alaye Theophilus sued Jonathan Lokpobiri led faction over his eligibility or otherwise.

And with the wisdom of the Court in the ensuing matter the warring parties are made to preserve status and this implication means the parties can coexist without making any changes pending the final determination of the subject matter.

By this, no faction has right whatsoever over the other faction to carry out any threat, intimidation or bully anybody perceived to be a subscriber to the creed of either faction.

I’m more than bewildered to be removed from the WhatsApp that myself and a few others created for the purpose of togetherness in the spirit of IYC over the years and the subsequent press release issued by Mr. Toibokumoh Arigidi as a back up throwing caution at my person, is most demeaning and unfortunate and it simply shows bereft of proper information and education.

I find their behaviour morally reprehensible and legally unlawful as same is an infringement of my inalienable fundamental right to freedom of association, expression and opinion.

At this juncture, I give 24hours ultimatum to Mr. Toibokumoh Arigidi and his cohorts to add me back into the group, and failure to comply, I will do the needful to assert my right within the ambit of the law of the land.

A stitch in time saves nine.

Thank you

E- Signed:

Lawrence Steven

(Financial Secretary, IYC Western zone)