Channels Television has sacked Rivers State Correspondent, Emmanuel Ereyi, for his alleged unprofessional conduct during the last elections.
The foremost independent 24-hour news and media television channel took this decision after thoroughly gathering pieces of evidence of biases, partisanship and compromise against the journalist and the cameraman attached to him during the polls.
Mr Ereyi was believed to have been influenced by Governor Nyesom Wike to fabricate falsehood to enhance his second-term bid.
In one of his stories prior to the elections, the reporter claimed the incumbent had successfully constructed and completed the “ Mile-1 Market and Health Centre at Agip”.
According to him, the governor was “not happy seeing the traders on the road”, noting that street trading poses a risk.
However, careful fact-check revealed otherwise as the said project was one of the numerous dummies sold to the people.
In another report in 2018, Mr Ereyi accused the Federal Government of withholding special funds meant for the state.
He claimed that this action was aimed at punishing Governor Wike for “criticising the Federal Government.”
Mr Ereyi even asserted that the governor set up a committee on the Administration/Disbursement of the Civil Servants Revolving Loan Scheme.
He added that Mr Wike inducted the Rivers State N200million Monthly Traders and Young Entrepreneurs Interest Free Loan Scheme.
According to the journalist, this scheme was initiated by the administration of former Governor Peter Odili but neglected by the successive government.
During the elections, Mr Ereyi was in the forefront in promoting the incumbent at all cost, even if it meant slandering every other individual or group.
Being the country’s leading news station, Mr Wike allegedly offered the state’s correspondent huge financial incentive to sway his unalloyed support.
Reports like how the governor armed fake military personnel in a bid to jeopardise the exercise were swept under the carpet with the help of Ereyi.
The reporter’s gross partisanship reached new heights when the Guber poll was postponed.
According to reports, the estranged journalist was the tool used by the governor in diffusing tailored, concocted and biased stories against the Nigerian Army thereby misleading the public.
On learning his impending dismissal, Mr Ereyi, however, quickly tendered his resignation.
In the letter addressed to the Human Resource Manager, the journalist acknowledged there were a “series of issues especially following the 2019 elections in Rivers State”.
“ I wish to tender my Letter of Resignation as Rivers State Correspondent for Channels Television with immediate effect,” he said.
Recall that the military had raised an alarm about how the governor made attempts to bribe a military chief in a bid to discredit the exercise.
“It is indeed no secret to the military authorities that Governor Wike has on various occasions made attempts to compromise the integrity of the GOC 6 Division, Maj Gen Jamil Sarham.
“Having failed, despite series of overtures and monetary pledges of millions of dollars, both in person and from cronies, it is no surprise that the frustrated Governor has resorted to this appalling campaign of calumny.”
The statement was in response to an allegation that the army attempted to assassinate the Rivers governor, Mr Wike.
There was also report about how the incumbent offered some foreign diplomats kickbacks to spread propaganda about the army.
