AS politicians continue to attack, blackmail and call rival groups names in a bid to gain the support of voters come the 2027 general elections, workers of the Anambra State-owned Broadcasting Service (ABS) have been warned by their Managing Director, Mr Chris Molokwu, not to speak in favour of former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi, or forfeit their salaries.
Sounding the note of warning, Molokwu stated that they should also not speak against Governor Chukwuma Soludo as civil servants, but should remain neutral, especially in the current political dispute between Governor Chukwuma Soludo and former Governor Peter Obi.
Molokwu further cautioned them against taking sides and making comments on their personal social-media accounts that could be interpreted as supporting either side in the political disagreement.
He reminded the workers that they were employees of the current Anambra State Government and urged them to exercise caution in their posts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other social-media platforms, particularly comments concerning the governor, the First Family and Obi.
The ABS MD disclosed that some names had already been submitted to him and that he had personally reviewed some of the workers’ Facebook pages, claiming that he found comments he considered unfavourable to the government.
“Some names have been sent to me and I have gone through your Facebook pages and yes I have found some not so good comments about the government of the day,” Molokwu stated.
He described such conduct as unacceptable for public officers, warning workers against speaking against the government while remaining employees of the state administration.
Molokwu further disclosed that ABS workers’ social-media accounts were being investigated, advising employees to be mindful of what they post and warning them not to allow their cases to become a matter of regret.
“This is the last time I will talk about this issue. Be warned. Take dressing and repent as public officers,” he said.
The warning comes amid an increasingly heated public dispute between Soludo and Obi over issues including the 2027 presidential election, Anambra’s finances, alleged outstanding workers’ entitlements, among others.
In their reactions to the Obi and Soludo political saga, some traders wondered why Soludo would at this time of Obi’s presidential electioneering campaign come up with frivolous and unsubstantiated allegations against Obi, his Igbo brother.
According to one of the traders, Chief Martins Okalume, “Why must Soludo be this unhappy that his brother is contesting for presidential election to the extent that he (Soludo) openly campaigns and supports Bola Tinubu?
“The evil that men do lives after them and my prayer is that Soludo will live to see what he did to himself politically unless he stops attacking Obi. Soludo left former Governor Willie Obiano that handed over to him and jumps to attack Obi who left office as governor eight years before he (Soludo) came on board.
“Why are we Igbo jealous of the progress of our brothers instead of being our brother’s keepers like the Yorubas and Hausas? If Soludo wants to be the next Igbo civilian President after late Nnamdi Azikiwe, it is not by attacking a fellow Igbo man,” he advised.
Also, Chief Madu Ihenka, another trader, stated that, “Soludo should take it easy as no condition is permanent. He moves with armoured vehicles but tomorrow he will move with his personal car like Obi.
“He is not the first Anambra Governor and will not be the last. I am surprised that instead of supporting Obi for presidential ticket he supports Tinubu and even campaigns for him, dumping his own brother, Obi,” he lamented.
