Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi over his claim that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies contributed to the death of his mother.
Wike accused Amaechi, who is the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, of bringing his late mother into political arguments in an attempt to gain public sympathy.
The FCT minister spoke on Saturday while addressing members of the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council at Ekpeye House in Ahoada, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Amaechi had, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, attributed his mother’s death to the difficulty he allegedly experienced in purchasing her medication as the cost of drugs increased following the economic changes introduced by the Tinubu administration.
“Tinubu’s policies killed my mother. Before Tinubu came, my mother was healthy. After 2023, it was difficult for me to buy drugs for my mother,” Amaechi said.
His comments came amid his broader criticism of the Federal Government’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy and the resulting increase in the cost of living.
Reacting to the claim, Wike questioned how Amaechi, who had occupied several influential political positions over 24 years, could have been unable to afford medication for his mother.
Wike noted that Amaechi 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.
“Again, you said it was Tinubu that killed his mother. It was Tinubu’s administration that led to not being able to buy drugs for his mother.
“This one, a speaker for eight years, from 1999 to 2007. This one, a governor for eight years, from 2007 to 2015. This one, a minister for eight years, from 2015 to 2023.
“And your mother was sick, and you are telling the whole world that because of the policy of Tinubu, you couldn’t buy drugs for your mother, and so your mother died,” Wike said.
The minister also questioned whether Amaechi could not have obtained financial assistance from members of his family or associates to meet his mother’s medical expenses.
Referring to Amaechi’s wife as an industrialist, Wike asked why she could not have assisted in paying for the medication.
“Yet, an industrialist couldn’t give you money to buy drug for your mother,” he said.
Wike also referred to some of Amaechi’s associates, whom he said were financially capable and attended the former governor’s mother’s burial.
“Yet, you didn’t know that you had friends who had private jets, who would come down to bury a mother whom you could not buy drug for, for her to survive?” he asked.
According to Wike, Amaechi could have sought assistance from such associates while his mother was alive rather than raising the issue in the context of political debate after her death.
“You didn’t tell them, ‘My mother was sick, can you help me? Give me money, let me buy drug.’ Let me tell you the truth, they gave you money. And then they came to bury your mother, and you accepted it,” he said.
Wike also took issue with another statement attributed to Amaechi concerning his late mother and the 2027 presidential election.
The FCT minister said Amaechi had stated in a video that his mother would be happy if the ADC won the election.
“In one of his videos, he said if ADC wins election, his mother will be very happy. So, the only condition is that his mother will not be happy if ADC does not win.
“Too bad! She will not be happy that ADC will not win. You are the one who said your mother would be happy if ADC wins. How can you bring a loved one who’s gone to bring in politics?” Wike said.
He described the development as unfortunate and accused Amaechi of using the memory of his late mother in political discourse.
“It is unfortunate people can descend so low to use their mother to play politics,” the minister said.
Wike urged Nigerians to allow the deceased to rest and prayed for peace for Amaechi’s late mother.
“But all of us should pray that the old woman who died would have rest, would have peace with her Creator,” he added.
Amaechi’s mother, Ezinne Amaechi, died on July 16, 2026, at the age of 89. Her death attracted condolences from prominent political figures, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.
She was later buried in Ubima, Rivers State, with several prominent political figures attending the funeral.
The controversy over her death has emerged amid renewed political exchanges between Wike and Amaechi ahead of the 2027 elections.
The two Rivers politicians were once political allies but have since become prominent political opponents. Their latest exchange follows a series of criticisms by Wike against Amaechi over his record in public office.
Earlier in the week, Wike challenged Amaechi to account for his achievements in Rivers State and the wider Evo Kingdom during his 24 years in senior political positions.
Amaechi, meanwhile, has continued to criticise the Tinubu administration over the economic situation in the country. During his Friday appearance on Politics Today, he questioned the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy and argued that the resulting economic pressures had made life more difficult for Nigerians.
President Tinubu has defended his administration’s economic reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidy, arguing that the measures were necessary to address longstanding structural problems in the Nigerian economy. In his October 1 Independence Day address, the President said the reforms had produced signs of economic recovery while acknowledging that their implementation had caused significant hardship.
The latest dispute between Wike and Amaechi therefore combines their longstanding political rivalry with a broader disagreement over the impact of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies as political parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 elections.
