Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Former senator and founder of Legacy FM Radio, Abakaliki, Obinna Joseph Ogba, has denied claims that the recent suspension of the station’s Acting General Manager, Godfrey Chikwere, was politically motivated or influenced by the Ebonyi State Government.
He stated this in an interview with journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital, on Sunday night.
The management of the station had announced Mr. Chikwere’s suspension on Saturday after he criticised the State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, both on the radio station and on social media.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Ogba, who hails from Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, said the decision was purely an internal disciplinary measure based on the station’s code of conduct.
Ogba, who represented Ebonyi Central Senatorial District for two terms between 2015 and 2023, described as coincidental the fact that the suspension came at the time Mr. Chikwere faced backlash from some state government officials.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I appointed Mr. Chikwere after establishing Legacy FM, and he has been doing well. But every organisation has rules, and I had warned him on two previous occasions about issues relating to the running of the station.
“When I could no longer tolerate certain actions, I asked him to step aside for a while. It has nothing to do with the government or the governor,” Ogba said.
Mr. Ogba, however, refused to state exactly what infractions Mr. Chikwere committed to warrant the suspension.
“Those are internal affairs of the company, and it is not a matter for public disclosure,” he said.
Mr. Ogba expressed displeasure at insinuations that the suspension followed Chikwere’s criticism of government policies, stressing that the governor had never interfered in the affairs of Legacy FM since its establishment.
“I feel insulted when people suggest the governor directed or influenced his suspension. I built Legacy FM with my hard-earned resources before this governor came on board. Nobody supported me to set it up, and nobody will tell me how to run it,” he said.
Ogba also dismissed allegations that he had received government contracts, challenging anyone to provide evidence.
He clarified that while Governor Francis Nwifuru had facilitated the construction of a road and provision of electricity to the station’s area, it was part of the administration’s policy to support private investment.
“The road and electricity are not for me alone; they serve the entire community. I influenced the governor to do it, just as he has done for many others. That has nothing to do with this suspension,” he explained.
Ogba emphasised that Mr. Chikwere’s personal political activities or writings outside the station’s platform did not influence the decision.
“If he wrote anything about government, it was in his personal capacity, not on Legacy FM’s platform. So, the institution cannot be held responsible for that,” he added.
The former senator maintained that the suspension was an internal matter and advised the public against linking it to politics or government influence.
