Radio station suspends general manager after criticism of Ebonyi governor

Legacy FM, a privately-owned radio station in Ebonyi state, has suspended Godfrey Chikwere, its acting general manager.

This follows the general manager’s persistent criticism of Francis Nwifuru, the state governor.

Announcing his suspension on Saturday, the management of Legacy FM said Chikwere flouted its code of conduct.

“The management of Legacy FM 95.1, The Sound of Now, hereby suspends the acting General Manager, Godfrey Chikwere, with immediate effect, till further notice,” the statement reads.

“This is due to unruly behaviour and disobedience to the code of conduct guiding the Legacy FM.

“With such effect, he is hereby directed to hand over all the company property in his position to the next senior officer.”

In a post on his Facebook page on Friday, Chikwere implored the governor to be stringent in his handling of affairs, adding that Ebonyi’s perception index is “low and dwindling daily at a very embarrassing level”.

“On your appointees, you have appointees who are injuring your administration daily, yet you pamper them. Your Excellency, under your watch and on working days during working hours, some of your appointees are roaming around pa Ngele Oruta Township stadium in the name of sporting activities,” he wrote.

“Your Izzi political brothers and beneficiaries of your office are spending energy responding to your critiques through media chats and press briefings instead of seeing this Governorship position as their own by practically assisting you to succeed.”

Reacting in a statement on Monday, Monday Uzor, the governor’s chief press secretary, criticised Chikwere, alleging that he had been commissioned to suppress the rising profile of Ebonyi state.

“It is regrettable that despite the radio station thriving only on government support, the supposed helmsman dedicates a greater percentage of the station’s airtime to attack and run down the government whose support has kept his medium afloat,” the statement reads.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the governor gifted the medium a brand new Changan SUV, donated a brand new transformer that powers the station, and constructed the road leading to the broadcasting house.

“But rather than give at least balanced coverage of government activities, it has been turned into a slaughterhouse of the governor’s genuine development efforts and goodwill. What a way to be ungrateful to good deeds.”