By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria, NCSCN and the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, have jointly condemned the recent public actions of two members of the House of Representatives, Alex Ikwechegh against a Bolt driver, and Aderemi Oseni against the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.

Recall that in one of the videos, Hon. Alex Ikwechegh, representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency, was seen raining degrading words and serious threats to the life of a young Bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya.

The lawmaker has since made public apology over his actions, promising never to indulge in such acts again.

Reacting, the NCSCN commended Ikwechegh for apologizing but demanded he keep his promise to engage in community service and compensate Abuwatseya.

In a joint press statement, the groups noted that “In the other more disturbing video, Aderemi Oseni, House Committee Chairman on FERMA, was seen in an uncontrolled rage, tongue lashing and vituperatively addressing Dave Umahi, the Minister for Works, for what he assumed to be a failure to deliver on the mandate of his office.

The statement was signed by the National Deputy Secretary General, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Comrade Rikki Nwajiofor and Director Programme, National Civil Society Council of Nigeria, Mazi Oscar Kalu, respectively.

According to the ground, ” Instead of applying professional conduct and modesty, Hon. Oseni resorted to offensive assaults and defamatory assertions, stating that the minister was incompetent and unfit for the office.”

“He went on to question the criteria for the nomination of Engr. Dave Umahi as Honourble Minister for Works, thus casting aspersions at the Minister, and demeaning the sense of judgement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,  in making sound decision and laudable choices.

“It is totally unacceptable for any civil and progressive mind to tolerate such abuse of an accomplished Engineer that was generally rated as one of the most performing past Governors in Nigeria in terms of Infrastructural Development and Resource Management, which undoubtedly informed the wise decision of President Tinubu to assign Engr. Dave Umahi to oversee the Ministry of Works, “they added.

According to the groups,”More disturbing is the fact that Sen. Dave Umahi is barely one year and a few months in office.”

“It is glaring to every reasonable person, even to the blind, that contracts of road construction are awarded with a specified time frame for delivery. For someone who is barely one year in office, what kind of magic does Hon. Adremi Oseni expect the Minister of Works to perform?

” Award and construction of federal roads cannot be seen as a piece of cake that can be baked overnight.

“People should agree that the Government of President Tinubu is still battling to arrest terrible infrastructural decays and review of some contractual terms and conditions, previously made, while taking proper bearing on its course on national development. Hence, one year is too early to pass the verdict of failure on the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi if ulterior motives and prejudice did not form the basis.

“It is worthy of mentioning once again that, by questioning the criteria for the appointment of the Minister of Works, Hon. Aderemi Oseni has directly discredited the sound judgment of President Tinubu in making sound decisions and laudable choices, ” the statement read.

The CSOs demanded that Hon. Alex Ikwechegh compensates Stephen Abuwatseya and engage in community service.

On the other hand, the groups asked Hon. Aderemi Oseni to apologize to Umahi and Nigerians.