Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Rivers State governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, over his claim that President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies contributed to the death of his mother. Amaechi made the claim during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he argued that rising healthcare costs under the Tinubu administration made it difficult for him to afford the medication his mother needed.
His mother, Mary Amaechi, died in July 2026 at the age of 89. Asked by the interviewer whether Tinubu’s policies were responsible for his mother’s death, Amaechi responded that they were, saying his mother had been healthy before Tinubu became president and that the cost of her medication subsequently became difficult to afford. Reacting to the remarks during a political gathering in Rivers State on Saturday, Wike accused Amaechi of using his late mother’s death in the political campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike said he was particularly disturbed by the suggestion that a deceased parent should become part of a political argument. “You know, it’s unfortunate. I thought, for whatever reason, that we must respect our parents,” Wike said. He also referred to a video in which Amaechi reportedly said his mother would be happy if the ADC won the 2027 election. Wike questioned the implication of the statement, saying it suggested that Amaechi’s mother would not be happy if the ADC failed to win.
“But ADC will not win. No way!” Wike declared. The FCT minister then challenged Amaechi’s explanation that economic policies had made it difficult for him to purchase medication for his mother. Wike pointed to Amaechi’s previous positions in public office, noting that he served as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007, governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 and Minister of Transportation from 2015 to 2023.
He questioned why Amaechi, despite his years in public office and his personal resources, could not obtain financial assistance from friends, relatives or family members to help pay for his mother’s treatment. Wike also referred to Amaechi’s description of his wife as an industrialist and questioned why he could not obtain assistance from her to purchase the medication. He further pointed to the number of people who attended Amaechi’s mother’s burial, arguing that those relatives and associates could have assisted while she was alive.
According to Wike, Amaechi could have informed family members and friends that his mother was ill and needed financial assistance rather than attributing her death to government policy. “People can descend so low to use your mother to play politics. Why? Why?” Wike said. He also questioned Amaechi’s assertion that he was a good son, asking whether his late mother could be happy with the manner in which her death was being discussed politically.
Wike accused Amaechi of misleading Nigerians and pointed to properties he said were associated with the former governor in Rivers State and Abuja. He concluded by saying that Nigerians should pray for Amaechi’s late mother and that she should “have rest” and “peace with her Creator.”
