By Abiola Olawale
Nigerians have begun to react as a viral video surfaces on social media showing how a member of the House of Representatives, Alex Ikwechegh allegedly assaulted a Bolt driver who went to deliver a package to him at his Maitama residence in Abuja.
In the viral video, Ikwechegh, the lawmaker representing Aba North & South Federal Constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives was seen verbally and physically assaulting the driver, whose name is yet unknown.
The problem was said to have begun when the driver told the lawmaker to come out and get the snail that he was meant to deliver to him.
In the video, the visibly angered lawmaker repeatedly insisted that the request was disrespectful given his social status.
He was heard threatening to make the driver “disappear” without facing any consequences. When the driver requested the delivery fee, the politician slapped him multiple times, querying if the driver knew who he was talking to.
He said: “Do you know who I am? I can make this man (driver) disappear from the whole of Nigeria, and nothing will happen. Can you imagine this rat? I am not going to give this boy one naira of my money.
“I am not going to call my policemen to beat you up. I will do that myself. I will show you that I am a big brother. I will tie you up, lie you down and put you in my generator house. Do you know where you are? Because you saw me sitting outside here. Look at this monkey.”
This has sparked different reactions from Nigerians.
Below are some of the reactions curated from social media:
“This is pure oppression and wickedness. 😦 so a Bolt driver went to deliver something to a Politician, and this happened just because the driver asked the man to come to the car to pick up his stuff! This is currently happening now at Maitama.”(@Yucee_)
“The Honourable expected a full delivery, not to pick up items himself. Delivery drivers should bring items to recipients, not vice versa. But the bolt driver thought he was the main guard to the boss. Most delivery companies operate that way.”(@Nevosys)
“How about investigating and inviting him about those that have disappeared so far without a trace? There’s a tendency he may have to make some people disappear from someone or people before without anything happening. From words people use, it’s possible confirmation of their historical events.”(@abalaka_sunday)
“A misguided idiot who abused the limited power he was given. What stops him from sending someone to grab the package if he’s too big to pick up his package lol …this country is in deep shit.”(@ndidi_patricia)