Nigerian lawmaker Alex Ikwechegh has apologized after a video went viral showing him slapping and insulting a taxi driver who was delivering food.
“I sincerely apologize for my words and actions in this incident… As a public servant, I understand the importance of my role and how my words can affect others,” he said Sunday night after the incident. And the politician interviewed by police said.
Bolt driver Stephen Abuwatsea accepted a job delivering some snails to Ikwechegh’s home in the capital, Abuja, and began recording their conversations after a dispute over payment.
The MP accused the driver of disrespecting him and slapped him in the video.
The 44-year-old politician from Nigeria’s southeastern Abia state appeared to be angered by the driver’s request that he come outside to collect the goods.
“So, the way you’re talking to me, do you think I’m going to give you the money?” he asked. in video.
Mr Abuwatseya responded: “I did a job for you and you have to pay me, sir.”
The councilman then called the snail seller and complained about the driver’s behavior: “How could this stupid idiot come to my house and tell me that I should meet him in his car and pick up the snails I wanted to buy?” You?
“Can you imagine this rat? I could make this guy disappear all over Nigeria and nothing would happen.
He then turned to the driver and continued arguing, asking him if he knew who he was, repeating: “How dare you?”
He continued: “I will beat you. I will tell you that I am your big brother. I will slap you hard enough to lay you down and lock you in my generator room. How dare you?
When Mr Abuwasiah later made it clear he was recording, MPs asked him to call the police chief.
The recording stopped when the MP appeared to grab the phone. In a later video, the driver, shirtless, claimed the politician tore off his shirt and slapped him a total of three times.
In a statement on Monday, police said they were investigating the matter and urged people not to use the police chief’s name to “intimidate others”.
In his statement, Published on TuesdayIkwechege expressed his “heartfelt apologies” to the police chief and “recognizes that my comments may have caused unintentional insults to him, his office and the agency as a whole”.
He also apologized to the House of Representatives, According to local media reportshas since referred the matter to its ethics committee.
“This incident is a humbling reminder of the need for restraint and self-control, especially in challenging circumstances,” the lawmaker said.
“I am committed to using this experience as an opportunity to grow, both as a citizen and as a more compassionate representative of my people.”
Ikwechege said he and Mr Abuwazia had “explored alternative dispute resolution” to resolve the issue and reached a “respectful solution”.
