Stephen Abuwatseya, the Bolt driver involved in a confrontation with Alex Ikwechegh, the House of Representatives member for Aba North/South, has publicly apologized for his role in the altercation that occurred during a package delivery.
In a video statement shared on Thursday, Abuwatseya expressed deep regret for provoking Ikwechegh and asked for forgiveness, urging Nigerians to move past the incident.
“My name is Stephen Abuwatseya. A few days ago, I had a misunderstanding with Rt. Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, and I want to sincerely apologize for whatever I may have said or done to provoke him to that level of anger,” he said in the video.
Abuwatseya also called on Nigerians to focus on unity rather than division along ethnic, religious, or regional lines, and emphasized the importance of forgiveness.
He quoted the Lord’s Prayer, saying, “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.’ There is no justice without forgiveness.”
He also took time to express gratitude to his family and well-wishers for their support during the ordeal. “I want to thank my family, my parents, my brothers, my uncles, and everyone who stood by me. I love you all, and God bless Nigeria,” he added.
The altercation between Abuwatseya and Ikwechegh occurred on October 28, when the driver arrived at the lawmaker’s residence in Maitama, Abuja, to deliver a package. In a viral video, Abuwatseya captured the incident, showing Ikwechegh visibly angry and slapping the driver multiple times after he was asked to come outside to collect the delivery of snails.
Following the incident, Ikwechegh issued a public apology, acknowledging his inappropriate conduct and apologising to Abuwatseya, the Nigerian Police, and the National Assembly. He admitted that his actions did not meet the standards expected from a public official, no matter the provocation.
Ikwechegh also revealed that he and Abuwatseya had resolved the matter through alternative dispute resolution, resulting in a “mutual and respectful agreement” between both parties.
The incident has attracted widespread attention, with many calling for the lawmaker to be held accountable for his actions. However, the public apologies from both sides indicate an attempt to put the matter behind them and move forward.
