The House of Representatives member representing Aba North/South of Abia State, Alex Ikwechegh, who made headlines after assaulting Stephen Abuwatseya, an e-hailing driver, in his Abuja residence, is once again in the news.
On Thursday, November 8, in a surprising turn of events, Abuwatseya publicly apologized to the Abia State lawmaker in a video shared on social media.
This development has sparked controversy on social media, with Nigerians voicing their opinions.
Recall that a video had surfaced online showing Ikwechegh assaulting the Bolt driver who had arrived at his Maitama residence in Abuja to deliver a package, sparking outrage from Nigerians.
Investors King reported that in the viral video, Abuwatseya was visibly angered as the lawmaker issued several threats and slapped him repeatedly.
It was gathered that the altercation escalated after the driver asked Ikwechegh to come outside to collect a package of snails intended for delivery.
The police subsequently arrested and arraigned Ikwechegh in court, where he pleaded guilty and was granted bail of N500,000.
Ikwechegh also issued a public apology, acknowledging his actions and expressing regret over his behavior during the incident.
However, in the latest video on Thursday, Abuwatseya apologized for provoking the lawmaker, urging Nigerians to come together to promote unity instead of division.
He stated, “Good day, Nigerians. My name is Stephen Abuwatseya. I had a misunderstanding with Rt. Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh a few days ago. I actually want to apologize to him for whatever I may have said or done to provoke him to that level of anger.
“I want to tell Nigerians that it’s not time for us to start dividing ourselves based on religion, tribes, or regions. We should actually come together, see how we can unite this nation, and move it forward.”
The driver pleaded with Nigerians to forgive and move past the incident, saying, “Please, Nigerians, let’s forgive and forget, as it’s even contained in our Lord’s Prayer, that ‘Lord, please forgive us, as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ For there is no justice without forgiveness. Thank you very much.”
He also expressed gratitude to his family members and everyone who supported him, concluding, “I want to thank all of you. I love you all. Thank you. God bless Nigeria.”
His apology has sparked numerous reactions on social media. While many Nigerians supported his decision to forgive the Abia lawmaker, others criticized the move.