Legacy FM in Ebonyi has suspended General Manager Godfrey Chikwere after he criticized Governor Francis Nwifuru.
Management cited code of conduct violations, while the move sparked debate over press freedom in the state.
The management of Legacy FM, a privately owned radio station in Ebonyi State, has suspended its General Manager, Godfrey Chikwere, following his public criticism of Governor Francis Nwifuru.
Chikwere, who previously worked with the state-owned Ebonyi State Broadcasting Corporation before joining Legacy FM in 2023, had recently used both his radio program and social media to call out the governor’s leadership style.
His suspension was announced on Saturday during a live broadcast. In the statement, the station’s management accused him of violating its code of conduct and exhibiting “unruly behavior.”
“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. This is due to unruly behavior and disobedience to the code of conduct guiding Legacy FM. He is directed to hand over all company property in his possession to the next senior officer,” the announcement read.
Chikwere’s criticism of the governor, posted on Facebook a day earlier, urged Nwifuru to take “decisive action” to safeguard his reputation and that of the state. He accused the administration of weak communication, tolerating underperformance among appointees, and failing to deliver on public promises. According to him, the governor’s goodwill was fading, and bold measures were needed to turn things around.
His comments drew strong reactions from government officials. In a statement, Governor Nwifuru’s spokesperson, Monday Uzor, dismissed the remarks as baseless and accused Chikwere of ingratitude. Uzor alleged that the station had benefited extensively from government support, including the donation of a Changan SUV, a transformer to power the station, and the construction of the road leading to its premises.
“It is regrettable that despite the radio station thriving only on government support, the supposed helmsman dedicates much of its airtime to attacking and running down the government,” Uzor said. He urged the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to look into the matter.
Similarly, Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebeh, condemned Chikwere’s remarks as “derogatory and inciting.” While acknowledging that constructive criticism is welcome, Omebeh warned against comments that could incite the public against elected leaders.
