The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi for attributing his mother’s death to the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu.
Wike said Amaechi should not have involved his late mother in political debates, accusing the African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate of invoking her death to attract political sympathy.
He made the remarks on Saturday while speaking to members of the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council at Ekpeye House in Ahoada, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Amaechi had, in an interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, claimed that Tinubu’s policies contributed to his mother’s death, saying the increasing cost of medicines made it difficult for him to purchase her drugs.
“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 during the interview.
Reacting to the statement, Wike questioned how Amaechi, who had held several prominent political offices, could claim that he lacked the resources to purchase medication for his mother.
He pointed out that Amaechi served as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly for eight years, governor for eight years and Minister of Transportation for another eight years.
“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 FCT minister also challenged Amaechi’s account by referring to his family’s reported financial position, including his description of Amaechi’s wife as an industrialist.
“Yet, an industrialist couldn’t give you money to buy drug for your mother,” he said.
Wike also asked why Amaechi’s friends, whom he said owned private jets and attended the burial, could not have offered financial assistance toward his mother’s medical treatment while she was still alive.
“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?
“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 criticised Amaechi’s remarks suggesting that his mother’s happiness was connected to the result of the 2027 election.
He said Amaechi had mentioned in a video that his mother would be happy if the ADC emerged victorious in 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.
The minister said Amaechi’s remarks involved his late mother in political discussions.
“It is unfortunate people can descend so low to use their mother to play politics,” he said.
Wike appealed to people to leave the deceased in peace, while praying that Amaechi’s mother would have peace.
“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, Mary Amaechi, died in July 2026 and was buried in September in Ubima, Rivers State. Several prominent political figures attended the burial ceremony.
The latest disagreement is another development in the prolonged political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, who once worked together before later becoming political adversaries.
Wike had also criticised Amaechi earlier in the week, asking him to account for his achievements in Rivers State after spending 24 years in senior political positions.
