The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi for linking the death of his mother to President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies.
Wike said Amaechi should not have brought his late mother into political arguments, accusing the African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate of using her death to seek political sympathy.
He 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, said Tinubu’s policies contributed to his mother’s death because the rising cost of medicines made it difficult for him to afford 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.
Responding to the claim, Wike questioned how Amaechi, who had occupied several top political positions, could say he was unable to afford medication for his mother.
He noted 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.
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“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 questioned Amaechi’s claim in view of his family’s reported financial circumstances, including his reference to Amaechi’s wife as an industrialist.
“Yet, an industrialist couldn’t give you money to buy drug for your mother,” he said.
Wike further questioned why Amaechi’s associates, whom he said had private jets and attended the burial, could not have assisted with his mother’s medical expenses while she was 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 took exception to Amaechi’s comments about his mother’s happiness being tied to the outcome of the 2027 election.
He 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.
The minister said Amaechi’s comments amounted to using his late mother in political discourse.
“It is unfortunate people can descend so low to use their mother to play politics,” he said.
Wike urged people to allow the deceased to rest, while praying that Amaechi’s mother would find 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. Her burial was attended by several prominent political figures.
The latest exchange is another episode in the long-running political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, who previously worked together before becoming political opponents.
Wike had also criticised Amaechi earlier in the week, challenging him to account for his achievements in Rivers State after 24 years in senior political positions.