Stephen Abuwatseya, the Bolt driver involved in an altercation with Alex Ikwechegh, a member of the House of Representatives for Aba North/South in Abia State, has issued a public apology following the incident.
In a video statement on Thursday, Abuwatseya claimed he had provoked Ikwechegh, which ultimately led to the assault.
“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 must have said or done to provoke him to that level of anger,” he said.
The driver also used the opportunity to call for national unity, stressing that it was time for Nigerians to come together rather than be divided by religion, tribe, or region.
“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,” he added.
Abuwatseya also referenced the importance of forgiveness, quoting the Lord’s Prayer, which encourages people to forgive others as they seek forgiveness.
“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 concluded.
He further expressed gratitude to his family and supporters, who have stood by him throughout the ordeal. “I want to use this medium to thank my family members, my parents, my brothers, my uncles, and everybody that stood by me. I want to thank all of you. I love you all. Thank you. God bless Nigeria.”
The incident which occurred on October 28, 2024, involved a confrontation at Ikwechegh’s residence in Maitama, Abuja.
Abuwatseya had arrived to deliver a package of snails to the lawmaker but was allegedly met with aggression when he asked Ikwechegh to come outside to collect it. A viral video captured the altercation, showing the visibly angry lawmaker slapping and insulting the driver.
However, following a widespread condemnation that trailed his actions and utterances, the lawmaker tendered a public apology for his conduct.
He was docked before an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court and later granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in the like sum.
Meanwhile, the apology of the driver did not sit well with netizens, who speculated that the apology was motivated by either threats or money.
A Facebook user, Okoye Onyedika, suggested that the Bolt driver might have been pressured or paid to issue a public apology for his alleged assault.
Okoye Onyedika wrote, “Is it not Nigeria again? Either they have threatened him, or money has exchanged hands.”
Echoing Onyedika’s sentiment, another user, Joseph K Nana, stated, “This must have been after a series of threats from the lawmaker’s boys. Justice is dead in Nigeria.”
Another user, Ngozi Okafor Okoye, commented, “He doesn’t want to disappear, so he accepted a settlement. Poverty shege.”
On X, a user CC Derek, tweeting as @derekchichi, argued that the driver should have been transparent if he had reached a settlement with the lawmaker instead of apologising.
@derekchichi wrote, “If this guy was paid off (I believe he was), why not simply tell people you’ve settled with the lawmaker and are moving on with your life? Don’t come out to preach; you’re nobody’s Rabbi. We only supported you because we don’t condone injustice (regardless of the victim).”
Another user on X.com, Mbuyazi, tweeting as @E_Mbuyazi, stated, “Dem don use millions settle his conscience. Poor man’s dignity is for sale. Shame.”
User Obianuju, tweeting as @ObianujuMenkiti, added, “For this to be true, two things are involved: 1. Threat to life; 2. Bank alert. These are the only two things that can make a man apologise to someone who disrespected his hustle, assaulted him, threatened him with ‘magical disappearance’ and more.”