Wike challenged Amaechi’s claim linking maternal deaths to Tinubu’s policies

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has rejected former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s claim that President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies contributed to the death of his mother.

Amaechi, who is the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 elections, made the claim during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday.

He said the increase in the price of medicines following the implementation of the Tinubu administration’s policies had made it difficult for him to pay for his mother’s treatment.

“Tinubu’s policies killed my mother. Before Tinubu came, my mother was healthy. After 2023, it will be difficult for me to buy medicine for my mother,” said Amaechi in an interview.

Wike responded to the claims on Saturday while speaking with members of the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council at Ekpeye House in Ahoada, Ahoada East Local Government Area of ​​Rivers State.

The FCT Minister questioned how Amaechi, considering his long tenure in public office, could link his inability to purchase medicine for his mother to Federal Government policy.

Wike was referring to Amaechi’s previous positions as Chairman of the Rivers State House of Assembly, state governor and Minister of Transportation.

“Again, you say it was Tinubu who killed his mother. It was Tinubu’s government that caused him not to be able to buy medicine for his mother.

This one was speaker for eight years, 1999-2007. This one was governor for eight years, 2007-2015. This one has been minister for eight years, 2015-2023.

“And your mother was sick, and you told the whole world that because of Tinubu’s policies, you couldn’t buy medicine for your mother, so your mother died,” Wike said.

He also questioned Amaechi’s statement regarding his family’s financial condition, calling his wife an industrialist.

Also read: Indonesian Navy Finds 40,000 Liter Illegal Refinery in Rivers, Three Suspects Detained

“However, an industrialist cannot give you money to buy medicine for your mother,” he said.

Wike further questioned why some of Amaechi’s colleagues, who he said had access to private jets and attended his mother’s funeral, could not help with her medical expenses while she was still alive.

“Yet, you don’t know that you have a friend who owns a private jet, who will come to bury a mother whose medicine you can’t afford, so she can survive?

“You don’t tell them, ‘My mom is sick, can you help me? Give me money, let me buy medicine.’ Let me tell you the truth, they give you money. Then they came to bury your mother, and you accepted it,” he said.

The minister also criticized Amaechi’s reference to his late mother in the context of the 2027 presidential election.

According to Wike, Amaechi had stated in the video that his mother would be happy if ADC won the election.

“In one of his videos, he said that if ADC wins the election, his mother will be very happy. So, the only condition is that his mother won’t be happy if ADC doesn’t win. So, the condition is that his mother won’t be happy if ADC doesn’t win.”

“What a shame! He won’t be happy if ADC doesn’t win. You were the one who said your mother would be happy if ADC won. How can you bring a loved one who is leaving to enter politics?” Wike said.

He accused Amaechi of bringing his late mother into political arguments and urged politicians to separate the memory of his deceased relative from political disputes.

“It’s a shame that people are in such low positions that they use their mothers to play politics,” he said.

Wike concluded by offering prayers for Amaechi’s late mother.

“But we all have to pray that the old woman who died will find rest, find peace with her Creator,” he added.

Mary Amaechi, mother of the former governor of Rivers, died in July 2026 at the age of 89. He was later buried in Ubima, Rivers State.

Amaechi’s remarks come amid his broader criticism of the Tinubu government’s economic policies. In recent days, he has argued that rising costs of living and health services are among the issues that should be a political debate in 2027.

The exchange between Wike and Amaechi is the latest episode in their long-standing political rivalry, which is intensifying ahead of the 2027 elections. The two men previously held senior political positions in Rivers State before becoming political opponents.