A member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Matthew Omonade has distanced himself from the response of Zik Gbemre over his suspension by the House.
Recall that Omonade, who represents Ughelli North Constituency One under the banner of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was recently suspended by the House for 14 legislative days for gross misconduct.
In the motion which was supported by the Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Perkins Umukoro, Sapele, and unanimously adopted by the House, the suspended lawmaker was alleged to have willfully and falsely perverted the proceedings of the House of Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
Gbemre, a self-styled activist and public analyst had in an article titled: “OMONADE’S SUSPENSION: WHO’S STILL DISPUTING DELTA IS UNDER CHOKE OF A KINDERGARTEN GOVT?”, descended heavily on the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the leadership of the State Legislature over Omonade’s suspension.
He wrote in part, “Otherwise, how more can you define a shameless and kidergarten government than the current Delta State Government’s conspiracy that resulted in the March 14, 2024 suspension for 14 days of opposition lawmaker representing Ughelli North Constituency I, Hon. Matthew Omonade in the Delta State House of Assembly?
“That a bill presented by Omonade was not allowed to see light of the day by yet another misfit Speaker Emomotimi Guwor, found its way to the floor of the House as an Executive Bill. And for daring to question such robbery of his intellectual property, Omonade who is Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions, was suspended, for a concocted ‘gross misconduct’.
“The conspirators in the House alleged the suspended lawmaker “willfully and falsely perverted the proceedings of the House on May 8, 2024”, House Leader, Emeka Nwaobi, citing violation of the standing order and rules of the House.
“A principal member of the House, among multiple sources had confirmed that Omonade was suspended for challenging the House over his bill that was plagiarized and for asking that the bill be withdrawn.”
However, reacting to Gbemre’e write-up, Omonade completely disassociated himself from it saying the author did not sort his approval to do so and both of them have never met in life.
Omonade in a disclaimer wrote below:
RE: OMONADE’S SUSPENSION: WHO’S STILL DISPUTING DELTA IS UNDER CHOKE OF A KINDERGARTEN GOVT?
I read with deep consternation an online article on spadenigeria.com written by one Zik Gbemre on May 27, 2024 titled “Omonade’s Suspension: Who’s Still Disputing Delta is Under Choke of a Kindergarten Govt?”, in which he sold a wrong and toxic thought on the internal conflict we had in Delta State House of Assembly. As lawmakers, it is inevitable to experience internal issue which are also meant to be resolved in the House.
I want to state categorically and in very clear terms that I, Hon. Matthew Onojighofia Omonade, member representing the good people of Ughelli North Constituency 1, did not at any time, or at any meeting – be it online or offline- authorize any member of the public to write an article or a column on the above subject. Nobody should deploy toxic machinations to play politics with the current situation. I am a man of peace who seeks the best for my people.
I wish to re-emphasise that whatever narrative the writer has pushed to the public domain is nothing but MERE SPECULATIONS, which to me, are unhealthy. In other words, Zik Gbemre’s opinion in that article does not represent my sentiments and/or the TRUE position of things. As I had emphasized earlier, I am a pacifist, and would always take healthy, legitimate steps to handle issues. Zik Gbemre does not have any mutual relationship with me, and did not have any conversation with me before ventilating this wrong message to the unsuspecting public. I have NEVER met him in person or spoken to him in my entire life. As a responsible Deltan, I expected him to have first reached out to me, to know the true state of things.
I am committed to working with my colleagues for the greater good of Deltans. So, whatever inspired Gbemre’s tirade does not reflect my humane disposition to issues. All is well.
I appreciate all those that consistently reached out to me. All is well.
Hon. Matthew Onojighofia Omonade, Esq.
