Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has blamed the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he described as the difficulties his family faced in caring for his late mother.
Amaechi, who is the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, said the rising cost of medicines made it increasingly difficult to provide the treatment his mother needed before her death.
Speaking during an interview, the former Rivers State governor said his mother had been in good health before Tinubu became president but that the situation changed as the cost of drugs increased.
“Because policies are killing people. I’ve lost my mother,” Amaechi said.
He questioned why his mother could not live into her 90s like some of his friends’ parents, arguing that the rising cost of healthcare became a serious burden for his family.
“Before Tinubu, my mother was healthy. Suddenly, by the time Tinubu came, it was difficult to buy drugs for my mother,” he said.
Amaechi acknowledged that some people might find his claim difficult to accept but maintained that many families were facing similar challenges as the cost of living continued to rise.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines and other finished products, arguing that the situation leaves Nigerians vulnerable to rising prices.
According to him, many elderly Nigerians and their families are struggling to afford essential medicines, while the country continues to spend heavily on importing pharmaceutical products.
His comments come amid wider political disagreements over the impact of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, with opposition figures frequently pointing to the cost of living and healthcare affordability as major concerns.
Amaechi said the experiences of families struggling to afford medication should be considered when assessing the effects of government policies on ordinary Nigerians.
