Alex Ikwechegh: “Honourable”, Who Are You? Nonsense! -By Abdulkadir Salaudeen

It is nonsensical for someone who is not known beyond few yards from his residence in Abuja to think he should be known by everyone or by every bolt driver in the FCT. This is self-importance—exaggeration of one’s merit when the reality is lack of merit. This is sickening. We saw a viral video of one Alex Ikwechegh, a megalomaniac lawmaker representing Aba South/Aba North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives insulting and assaulting a bolt driver. Ikwechegh, due to his egotism,  even thought he was a senator.

Briefly, the bolt driver, Abuwatseye, was asked to deliver snails to Ikwechegh at his residence in Abuja. On getting to Ikwechegh’s residence, the bolt driver explained he greeted him twice but the lawmaker did not respond. Not knowing the lawmaker in person, he shouldn’t be wrong if he thought he was greeting a deaf and dumb, not the lawmaker (as he was not told the lawmaker is deaf or dumb). This prompted the bolt driver to dial Ikwechegh’s mobile number directly. To his surprise, the man whom he greeted but did not respond is the one whose phone rang.

The lawmaker became infuriated and yelled out at the bolt driver: “Are you stupid? Are you mad? Are you a fool? Bring my stuff for me!” For those who do not know the offence committed by Abuwatseye, listen to the lawmaker again: “You common Bolt driver. You are a poor man. You have pride in your poverty. Do you know who I am?”  Abuwatseye committed many offences. First offence, he is a common bolt driver but had the gut to dial the number of a whole lawmaker. Offence number two, Abuwatseye is a poor man. Offence number three, Abuwatseye appeared to have maintained his dignity as bolt driver and did not behave like some slaves in Nigeria who prostrate before Nigerian politicians (in reverence) for crumbs in a manner they would not, to God. Offence number four, Abuwatseye did not know that the man he greeted who turned momentarily “deaf” is the “senator.” I will come to this last point soon.

The do-you-knoe-who-I-am dishonorable lawmaker who insulted the honorable bolt driver reveals once again the disdain those we elected to represent us have for us. Lord Acton, an English Catholic historian, politician, and writer asserted that “power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” While Acton is right, what is even worse is the case in Nigeria whereby the thought of having power, not actually having power, also corrupts absolutely.

I have been brainstorming since I watched the viral video of Alex Ikwechegh’s assault on the bolt driver to see if I could understand why an ordinary member of the House of Representative should think so important about himself so much so that he considers himself a god that should be worshipped. Alex Ikwechegh, the so-called lawmaker, has broken the law he was elected to make. If Nigerian law is wrathful or has an iota of wrathfulness, it should not hesitate to descend its wrath on the lawmaker who displays traits of irresponsibility with reckless audacity.

Those who are against youth leadership argue that Alex Ikwechegh’s action validates their position that the youth should not be entrusted with power; they will abuse it. I plead to disagree. It is not about youthfulness; it is about whether one enjoys mental well-being or one is ailed with personality disorder. It seems we get it wrong; I mean, the definition of youth. In my search, Alex Ikwechegh was born 1980. If he did not lie about his official age, he was born 44 years ago. If he lied, it means he is older since lying about age in Nigeria is often to reduce it not to inflate it. By what stretch of reasoning can we assume or conclude that a 44-year-old is a youth?

The term “youth” typically refers to adolescents who are typically teenagers (13-19 years old); young adults (20-24 years old) and those transiting youth age to full adulthood (25-29 years old). The United Nations defines youth as: “Those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years.” It is true that some organizations and countries do extend the definition of youth to 30 or 35 years old. For instance, the National Youth Service Corps defines youth as those that are 18-30 years old. Therefore, 44 is way beyond the youth age range. Alex Ikwechegh is not a youth and does not represent the youth.

By his age, he has transited to full adulthood. Maybe one agrees Ikwechegh is a youth, a full adult, or an old man, his behavior is not youthful. It is childish. He displays the mannerism often displayed by mannerless and untrained pupils—from well-to-do homes—towards their poor fellow class mates in primary school. It is shameful that an adult—an elected lawmaker, for that matter—would descend this low.

Back to Abuwatseye’s offence number four. “Do you know who I am?” The bolt driver apparently did not know who Ikwechegh is. I did not know too. Also, most Nigerians did not know him. Some of his co-lawmakers would definitely know him and those he has enslaved and allowed themselves to be enslaved. But Ikwechegh should thank Abuwatseye for catapulting him to the limelight. Now, many Nigerians know him. I now also know him but for a very wrong reason. We know him as a kill-and-go lawmaker who could delete (from the surface of the earth) any adult monkey and poor rat who claims to be Nigerian but fails to kneel down to greet him like Abuwatseye.

According to Abuwatseye, the lawmaker claimed he would pay 50 million naira to people, and they would kill him, and nobody would say anything. This is what too much money does to someone who does not work to earn it.  If it is power that tends to corrupt according to Acton, I say, “money tends to corrupt and too much money corrupts too muchly.” Narcissistic Ikwechegh thinks with his money, he can do and undo. He thinks he can spare and take the life of the poor. He is wrong.

I learnt the lawmaker has apologized. I don’t know if he apologized to Abuwatseye, but he did apologize to his co-lawmakers. He said, remorsefully, “It happened in the heat of the moment. As a public officer, my behaviour fell short of the standard expected of me. I am very sorry.” If Ikwechegh is truly remorseful, he should apologize to the bolt driver and all Nigerians.

We read that this lawmaker in the eye of the storm started politics as a youth. He reportedly became the first youngest elected local government chairman in Nigeria at age 28. In a 2020 report, four years ago, he was said to be a philanthropist who had been helping the needy especially through his foundation, Alex Ikwechegh Foundation. He has many records to his credit. How he suddenly became a bulldozer that cannot tolerate the poor is disturbing. Despite what I have written—censoring the lawmaker—in defence of Abuwatseye, I think Ikwechegh can be, and should be, forgiven. That is, if he is truly remorseful for what he did to the bolt driver. But netizens doubt his remorsefulness. His words of apology are said to be 100% AI-generated. I am speechless!

Anyway, since members of the House of Representatives insist they would be probe him, I suggest a psychiatrist test. Ikwechegh might not be his true self.

To Abuwatseye, I salute your ability to see dignity in what you do for living. I wish you Divine Guidance and success.

Abdulkadir Salaudeen

salahuddeenabdulkadir@gmail.com