FCT MINISTER WIKE ACCUSES ADC VP CANDIDATE AMAECHI OF USING MOTHER’S DEATH IN POLITICAL ARGUMENT

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Rivers State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, over comments linking the death of his mother to the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Wike accused Amaechi of bringing his late mother into political arguments and questioned the former governor’s decision to attribute difficulties in purchasing her medication to the Federal Government’s economic policies.

The FCT Minister 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 made the comments during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, where he argued that the rising cost of medicines under the Tinubu administration made it increasingly difficult for his family to provide the drugs his mother required.

According to reports of the interview, Amaechi said his mother had been healthy before Tinubu assumed office in 2023 but that the rising cost of medication subsequently made it difficult for him to continue paying for her treatment.

Wike, however, rejected Amaechi’s argument and questioned how the former governor, given his years in senior public office, could say that the cost of medication prevented him from adequately caring for his mother.

The minister pointed to Amaechi’s political career, noting that he served as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007, Governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 and Minister of Transportation from 2015 to 2023.

Wike asked why Amaechi did not seek financial assistance from family members, friends or associates if he was struggling to meet his mother’s medical expenses.

He also referred to Amaechi’s description of his wife as an industrialist and questioned why assistance could not have been obtained from her or from some of the former governor’s associates.

Wike further referred to the prominent personalities who attended Amaechi’s mother’s burial, arguing that some of those individuals could have assisted with her medical treatment while she was alive.

The minister also took issue with Amaechi’s reported reference to his late mother in connection with the 2027 presidential election.

According to Wike, Amaechi had stated in a video that his mother would be happy if the ADC won the 2027 election. Wike questioned why the deceased should be brought into an ongoing political contest.

He described the situation as unfortunate and accused Amaechi of using the death of his mother in political discourse. Wike urged politicians to allow deceased relatives to rest rather than making their deaths part of political arguments.

Amaechi’s comments came amid his wider criticism of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, particularly the impact of rising costs on Nigerians. He has argued that the increase in the cost of medicines and other essential goods has placed additional pressure on households.

The ADC vice-presidential candidate has also criticised other aspects of the administration’s economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange system, arguing that the policies have increased hardship for many Nigerians.

Amaechi’s mother, Mary Amaechi, died in July 2026 at the age of 89 and was later buried in Ubima, Rivers State. Her death and burial attracted condolences and attendance from prominent political figures.

The latest exchange is another development in the longstanding political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, who both previously occupied senior political positions in Rivers State before becoming political opponents.

As the 2027 general elections approach, both politicians have continued to publicly criticise each other, with their latest disagreement centred on Amaechi’s assessment of the Federal Government’s economic policies and his comments concerning his late mother.