The owner of Legacy FM, Senator Obinna Ogba, has defended his decision to suspend the station’s General Manager, Mr. Godfrey Chikwere, over allegations of negatively criticizing Governor Francis Nwifuru during a talk show. Ogba, a former senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, dismissed claims that the governor influenced his decision, describing such insinuations as an insult to his personality.
Chikwere’s suspension on August 9 sparked a public debate, with some people faulting his alleged characterization of the governor as a weak leader, while others supported his right to express his opinion. Ogba maintained that the suspension was an internal matter, citing Chikwere’s failure to adhere to the station’s code of conduct. “I warned him severally on the non-adherence and cannot bear it further. Chikwere, therefore, has to go and rest,” Ogba said.
Chikwere, popularly known as “Baby Mouth” in Ebonyi social circles, denied that he criticized the governor negatively, saying he was simply doing his job as a professional media personality. “I never had a hidden agenda or personal interest, but just communicated my opinion. I have the governor’s interest at heart, and I think such was misunderstood,” he said. Chikwere also pointed out that his posts could be verified to show that he had no personal interest or demand in them.
The Manager of Programmes and Administration at Legacy FM, Mr. Chukwuma Onwe, condemned Chikwere’s suspension, stating that he did nothing to warrant such action. Onwe described Chikwere’s discussion with his guest analyst as constructive, focusing on the alleged sale of official vehicles by the governor’s appointees. This development highlights the complexities of media-government relations in Ebonyi State.
As the owner of Legacy FM, Ogba inaugurated the station before Nwifuru came into office. Ogba’s relationship with the governor has been cordial, especially after he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with over 5,000 loyalists in March 2024. The governor had also commissioned the Legacy FM office in Abakaliki in August 2023, praising Ogba for investing in the state.
