Radio Station Suspends Acting General Manager Over Criticism of Ebonyi Governor

Legacy FM, a privately-owned radio station in Ebonyi State, has suspended its acting general manager, Godfrey Chikwere, following his repeated public criticism of Governor Francis Nwifuru. The station’s management announced the decision on Saturday, citing “unruly behaviour” and a breach of its code of conduct, and directed Chikwere to hand over all company property to the next senior officer.

The move came after Chikwere took to Facebook on Friday, urging the governor to adopt a tougher approach in governance, alleging that Ebonyi’s public image was “low and dwindling” and accusing some appointees of neglecting their duties for leisure activities. He also criticised the governor’s allies for focusing on defending him in the media rather than contributing to the administration’s success.

In a swift response, the governor’s chief press secretary, Monday Uzor, condemned Chikwere’s remarks, accusing him of working to undermine Ebonyi’s growing profile. Uzor noted that Legacy FM had benefited significantly from the governor’s support, including the donation of a Changan SUV, a transformer to power the station, and the construction of an access road. He alleged that instead of providing balanced coverage, the station had become “a slaughterhouse” for the governor’s development efforts.