Spokesman of Lagos State Police Command Benjamin Hundeyin has reacted to the apology given by Bolt driver Stephen Abuwatseya to federal lawmaker Alex Ikwechegh following their encounter last month.
The legislator allegedly threatened and assaulted Mr Abuwatseya who was delivering a package to him in Abuja on October 27.
Ikwechegh, representing Aba North/South of Abia State in the House of Representatives, was on October 30 arraigned before a Kuje Magistrate Court on three counts of abuse of office, assault and threat to life. He was granted bail of N500,000.
However, a video of the ride-hailing driver apologising to Ikwechegh was released on social media on Thursday night.
Abuwatseya 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 apologise to him for whatever I must 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.
“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.”
The apology has stirred debate on social media.
Reacting to it on Friday, Hundeyin wrote on X in Pidgin English that the police would have been criticised had the driver apologised before the case was taken to court.
“Thank God he did not apologize in the police station or before case went to court. We for hear am,” he said.
