Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi over his claim that President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies contributed to the death of his mother.
Wike accused Amaechi, who is the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, of bringing his late mother into political arguments and using her death in the ongoing political debate ahead of the 2027 election.
The FCT minister spoke on Saturday while addressing members of the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council at Ekpeye House in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Amaechi had, during an interview on Friday, said the rising cost of medicines under the Tinubu administration made it difficult for him to afford the drugs his mother needed.
“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.
Reacting, Wike questioned how Amaechi could say he was unable to afford his mother’s medication after spending years in some of the country’s most prominent political positions.
He pointed to Amaechi’s eight years as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, eight years as governor of Rivers State and another eight years as Minister of Transportation.
“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,” Wike said.
“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 also questioned whether Amaechi’s family and associates could not have helped with the cost of his mother’s treatment.
“Yet, an industrialist couldn’t give you money to buy drug for your mother,” he said, referring to Amaechi’s wife.
He also mentioned Amaechi’s friends whom he said had access to private jets and attended the burial, questioning why they could not have assisted while his mother was still receiving treatment.
“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?” Wike asked.
“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.”
Wike Questions Amaechi’s 2027 Comment
Wike also took issue with another comment he attributed to Amaechi concerning his late mother and the 2027 election.
According to Wike, Amaechi had said 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,” Wike said.
“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 considered it inappropriate to involve a deceased family member in political arguments.
“It is unfortunate people can descend so low to use their mother to play politics,” he said.
He urged people to allow Amaechi’s late mother to rest and offered a prayer for her.
“But all of us should pray that the old woman who died would have rest, would have peace with her Creator,” Wike added.
Amaechi’s mother, Mary Amaechi, died in July 2026 and was buried in September in Ubima, Rivers State. Her burial attracted several prominent political figures.
The latest exchange adds to the longstanding political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, who were once political allies before becoming opponents.
Wike had also criticised Amaechi earlier in the week, challenging him to identify an election he had won in Rivers State since their political relationship broke down in 2011.
