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Reactions have continued to trail the action of the member representing Aba North/South Constituency in the House of Representatives, Alexander Mascot Ikwechegh, who turned from a law-maker to law-breaker by assaulting a Bolt driver in his Maitama home. However, he is not alone as there are concerns of e-hailing drivers seemingly becoming endangered species with frequent assault by clients. PAUL OKAH reports.
The media is awash with reports of e-hailing drivers being assaulted by clients in the line of duty, with many unfortunate drivers even reportedly killed by ‘clients.’
In a statement on October 28, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Josephine Adeh, said on October 24, a Bolt driver, Emmanuel Ebhohimen, was allegedly assaulted by a passenger, identified as Brandy Nwatu, in the Galadima area of the Territory.
According to the PPRO, preliminary investigations suggested that an argument over luggage handling escalated into a physical altercation resulting in the driver’s injuries. The passenger was taken into custody, while the driver received medical attention at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi.
Law-makers as law-breakers?
A few days after the assault on Ebhohimen by Nwatu, Nigerians woke on Monday to the trending news of the member representing Aba North/South Constituency in the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Alexander Mascot Ikwechegh, who was caught on camera assaulting an e-hailing (Bolt) driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, in his Abuja home on the night of October 27.
In the trending video watched by this reporter, Ikwechegh could be seen angrily confronting and hitting the driver, while making threatening remarks on the driver who was said to have come to deliver snails to the lawmaker living around Farmer’s Market in Maitama.
Events have since assumed different turns, with almost everyone condemning the law-maker and different authorities investigating the incident.
Reactions
Speaking with this reporter on the action of the lawmaker, 2023/2024 Facebook Influencer of the Year, Maria Ude Nwachi, said it is very de-humanising for someone elected to represent his people to turn around to assault a fellow Nigerian.
She said, “Alex not only slapped the Bolt driver three times, he called him a monkey and tore his clothes. In less than two minutes, this man de-humanised his fellow being because he sees him as nobody. Apparently, this heartless Rep is a mixed race, who sees himself as white and superior and us, as monkeys, but doesn’t mind using monkeys to continuously benefit from our retrogressive nation that accords regard and respect to our oppressors.
“This is why when I was elected to serve in Ebonyi state House of Assembly, I never addressed myself as Honourable and would do no such thing on this earth. Just watch the video and you will think it is a man in an apartheid country dehumanising a black man or a KKK in Alabama or any Sundown city in America about to give a black man the you-know-what treatment.”
Similarly, a civil servant, Cynthia Olufemi, said the lawmaker was intoxicated by power; hence, he turned into a breaker of the very law and citizens he is supposed to protect, adding that e-hailing drivers have indeed become an endangered species.
“There is a saying by Lord Acton that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Ikwechegh, a so-called Honourable member of the House of Reps, is being intoxicated by power. Nothing justifies his repeatedly slapping the Bolt driver who came to deliver items for the supposed lawmaker. Watching the video was traumatising as the assault is simply man’s inhumanity to a fellow man.
“Again, it is disheartening that e-hailing drivers have become an endangered species. They are frequently assaulted by passengers and clients. I know of a friend who was killed by yet-to-be identified passengers along airport road in Abuja in 2021. We worked together in an organisation before he resigned and started his Uber business. He was stabbed many times before his car was stolen. They are other cases like that, with many not even reported in the media.
“So, if the Bolt driver did not record the video of Ikwechegh assaulting him, we wouldn’t have known how they risk their lives and are killed by clients. Remember that Ikwechegh said he will make him ‘disappear and nothing will happen’. That will tell you the kind man the lawmaker and other politicians are and how the drivers are risking their lives. I just hope the police will be thorough in their investigation of the incident. Bolt drivers should be extremely careful while rendering services,” she said.
On his part, a businessman, Ahmadu Jarafu, said that those in positions of authority should endeavour not to abuse it, condemning Ikwechegh’s action as falling short of expectation of a public servant.
He said, “In a position of authority, just view yourself as being stark naked in a public square where all eyes are on you, so that you will be mindful of how you sit or spread your legs. The Bolt driver is a very smart man, smarter than the so-called honourable. He understands the power of social media. While Ikwechegh was assaulting him, the driver was recording him. With the video, Nigerians got the evidence of what our politicians are behind the camera.
“Many people have committed worse crimes than Ikwechegh and have never been caught or prosecuted. That is what gives the politicians the courage to continue meting out injustice. It is indeed very sad. Nigerian politicians see themselves as demigods to the people who elected them to service them. Ikwechegh should be recalled from the House of Reps and prosecuted. Nothing short of that will bring justice and succor to the Bolt driver and Nigerians interested in how the police will handle the matter.”
Princess Habeeb said the character Ikwechegh showcased on the video is just a tip of what he is made of as politicians and for the police to investigate the incident.
“Bolt drivers, considering the security situation of our country, are not supposed to enter anybody’s compound in order not to endanger their lives. The IGP should personally step in since the man clearly said he can’t do anything. I also think his generator house should be properly scrutinised for past misdoings. Imagine if the driver didn’t make videos and no one to fight for him. He would have received the slaps and gone home sulking and regretting poverty or even killing himself out of frustration,” she said.
Admonitions
In a chat with Blueprint Weekend, a public affairs analyst, Ajagbe Omirinya, advised e-hailing drivers to be extra careful in their line of business, adding that the assault cases would have been handled differently by those involved.
He said, “Assault on and killing of e-hailing operators is a common trend in Nigeria, especially in the FCT. While many have been caught, others have not been brought to book. A check on the internet will tell you the pathetic situation. Many have died for nothing in this country. With the security situation in Nigeria, one needs not be told to be extra careful because people hardly get justice in this country. People move on to other issues, why families mourn their dead.
“Therefore, as a cab driver, do everything possible to avoid finding yourself in the situation where the dead found themselves. scrutinise orders before accepting them. Also, cancel orders if you are not comfortable with the location. Perhaps, those knifed or shot to death tried to struggle when their cars were being snatched by people they thought were passengers. Therefore, if you are unfortunate enough to find yourself in such a situation, don’t struggle with the car snatchers.
“There is nothing criminals hate more than being resisted. They will shoot you before thinking. So, give up your car keys and report to the police. Who knows, your car may be recovered. Even if it isn’t recovered, there is nothing greater than being alive.
“That said, the cab driver in the Ikwechegh incident must be commended for being brave enough to make a video and thinking of safety first. He didn’t retaliate when the lawmaker was assaulting himself, hence he has a good case and on the good side of Nigerians. Like the lawmaker threatened, he would have been killed like others before him or the lawmaker would claim it was in self defense since the incident happened in Ikwechegh’s house. So, I urge the responsible authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly.
“Also, Ikwechegh should work on his temperament because whatever character one exhibits when angry is the typical example of who he is. He should have been mindful of his words. His outbursts such as ‘I will make you disappear and nothing will happen; if you like call the Inspector-General of Police, nothing will happen; I will deal with you and nothing will happen’ were unnecessary. Those are not words to be used by a public office holder to a common Nigerian who is trying to make ends meet.”
