{"id":241472,"date":"2024-10-29T15:29:21","date_gmt":"2024-10-29T15:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2024\/10\/29\/nigerian-mp-apologies-after-viral-taxi-slapping-video\/"},"modified":"2024-10-29T15:29:21","modified_gmt":"2024-10-29T15:29:21","slug":"nigerian-mp-apologies-after-viral-taxi-slapping-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2024\/10\/29\/nigerian-mp-apologies-after-viral-taxi-slapping-video\/","title":{"rendered":"Nigerian MP apologies after viral taxi slapping video"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"article-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ghanaweb.com\/imagelib\/pics\/135\/13512506.295.jpg\" alt=\"Nigerian MP Alex Ikwechegh\" title=\"Nigerian MP Alex Ikwechegh\" width=\"295\" height=\"171\" \/> <span class=\"image_caption\"><span>Nigerian MP Alex Ikwechegh<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"-webkit-user-select: none; -webkit-touch-callout: none; -moz-user-select: none; -ms-user-select: none; user-select: none;\">\n<p id=\"article-123\">Nigerian MP Alex Ikwechegh has apologised after a video went viral of him slapping and verbally abusing a taxi driver who had come to deliver food to his house.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI sincerely apologise for my words and actions during this incident\u2026 As a public servant, I understand the weight of my role and how my words can impact others,\u201d said the politician who was questioned by police over the incident on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n<p>Bolt driver Stephen Abuwatseya accepted a job to deliver some snails to Ikwechegh\u2019s home in the capital, Abuja, and began recording their conversation after an argument started over payment.<\/p>\n<p>The lawmaker had accused the driver of disrespecting him and went on to slap him in the clip.<\/p>\n<p>What appeared to have angered the 44-year-old politician from Abia state in south-eastern Nigeria was the driver\u2019s request that he come outside to collect the delivery.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, you think I will give you my money with the way you have spoken to me?\u201d he asked in the video recording.<\/p>\n<p>Mr Abuwatseya responded: \u201cI did a job for you, and you have to pay me, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The MP then phoned the snail seller to complain about the driver\u2019s behaviour: \u201cHow can this stupid idiot come to my house and tell me that I\u2019m supposed to come and meet him in his car and pick up snail that I\u2019m buying from you?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan you imagine this rat? I can make this man to disappear in the whole of Nigeria and nothing would happen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He then turned back to the driver and continued the argument, asking if he knew who he was, repeatedly saying: \u201cHow dare you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He continued: \u201cI will beat you up. I will show you that I\u2019m a big brother to you. I will slap the hell out of you, lie you down, and lock you in my generator house. How dare you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When Mr Abuwatseya later made it clear he was recording, the MP challenged him to call the police chief.<\/p>\n<p>The recording stopped when it appears the MP grabbed at the phone. In a later clip the driver is seen bare-chested and alleges the politician tore his shirt off and had slapped him three times in total.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement on Monday, the police said they were investigating the matter and urged people to refrain from using the inspector general of police\u2019s name \u201cto intimidate others\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>In his statement, released on Tuesday, Ikwechegh extended his \u201cheartfelt apologies\u201d to the police chief \u201c recognising the unintended disparagement my remarks may have caused to his person, his office, and the entire institution\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>He also apologised to the House of Representatives, which, according to local media, has since referred the matter to its ethics committee.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis incident has been a humbling reminder of the necessity for restraint and self-control, especially in challenging circumstances,\u201d the legislator said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am committed to using this experience as an opportunity for growth, both as a citizen and as a more empathetic representative of the people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ikwechegh said he and Mr Abuwatseya had \u201cexplored alternative dispute resolution methods\u201d to sort out the issue and had reached a \u201crespectful resolution\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nigerian MP Alex Ikwechegh Nigerian MP Alex Ikwechegh has apologised after a video went viral of him slapping and verbally abusing a taxi driver who had come to deliver food to his house. \u201cI sincerely apologise for my words and actions during this incident\u2026 As a public servant, I understand the weight of my role [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":241473,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-241472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-africa"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - 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