Founder and president of Legacy FM and Television Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Senator Obinna Ogba, has said Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru, was not instrumental to his decision to suspend the acting general manager of the privately-owned radio and television station, Mr. Godfrey Chikwere.
Chikwere was suspended by the management of the station over what they described as gross misconduct and going against the code of conduct of the organisation.
There have been speculations that Chikwere’s suspension may not be unconnected to his criticisms of Governor Nwifuru and his influence on the founder of the station.
Chikwere, on his programme, Inside Politics, hosted the editor and publisher of Conscience News, Mr Charles Otu, a renowned journalist and public affairs analyst, wherein issues concerning the Ebonyi State government and its appointees were discussed and led to several counter-reactions in the state.
Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital, Ogba said that Mr Chikwere had previously violated the company’s code of conduct and was warned on several occasions to desist, to which he gave deaf ears, and consequently resulted in the current development.
Ogba maintained that the Ebonyi state government has nothing to do with the suspension, as he’s not in the government and would not have taken the decision to please them.
He noted that his actions were to protect the interest of his business in accordance with the regulations of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
“He has been doing well, but you know in every organisation, there are codes of conduct that govern that establishment, and if you listened to the announcement of the suspension, it was very clear that it was for not obeying the code of conduct of the establishment.
“I have warned him before now, first one, second one, and he has to do with the runnings of the establishment, so I felt so bad when I started hearing people saying that the government or governor directed the suspension or the government influenced it. I took exception to that, and I felt it was an insult to my person.
“I established Legacy FM before this governor came on board, and since its establishment, the governor has never interfered, and nobody has, not even me. I have meetings with the staff once in a while; there are complaints here and there, and when I couldn’t stomach it, I asked him to go and rest for a while, and it has nothing to do with the government of Ebonyi state.” Ogba said.
He, however, expressed willingness to temper justice with mercy and reinstate Mr Chikwere when he’s satisfied that the suspended acting general manager has realised his mistakes, apologised to the management and pledged to abide by the code of conduct of the establishment.
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