Stephen Abuwatseya, the e-hailing driver involved in a confrontation with House of Representatives member Alex Ikwechegh, has publicly apologized. The incident, which occurred on October 28, escalated after a package delivery led to an altercation at Ikwechegh’s residence in Abuja.

In a video released on Thursday, Abuwatseya expressed regret for his actions, acknowledging that he might have provoked the lawmaker during their interaction. He also appealed to Nigerians for forgiveness, emphasizing the importance of unity and forgiveness in the country.

“I want to apologize to Rt. Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh for whatever I must have said or done to provoke him,” Abuwatseya said. He further encouraged Nigerians to put aside differences and focus on building a united nation, referencing the concept of forgiveness from the Lord’s Prayer.

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The altercation, which was captured in a viral video, showed the lawmaker angrily slapping and insulting the driver after a misunderstanding about the package. The incident drew widespread attention on social media, prompting a public apology from Ikwechegh, who admitted that his actions were not befitting of his position as a public official.

Ikwechegh later shared an apology on Instagram, where he acknowledged his misconduct and extended apologies to both Abuwatseya and the Nigerian people. He also mentioned that the two had reached a resolution through alternative dispute measures, resulting in a respectful agreement between the parties involved.

As Abuwatseya moves forward, he thanked his family, well-wishers, and Nigerians for their support and expressed hope that the incident would be put behind them.