The political rivalry between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has taken another turn, with Wike criticising Amaechi for linking his mother’s death to the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu.
Wike accused Amaechi of bringing his late mother into political arguments and questioned the former governor’s claim that rising medicine costs under the Tinubu administration made it difficult for him to afford her treatment.
He spoke on Saturday while addressing members of the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council at Ekpeye House in Ahoada, Rivers State.
Amaechi, who is the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, had said during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday that Tinubu’s economic policies contributed to his mother’s death.
“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.
Responding, Wike questioned the claim, pointing to Amaechi’s previous positions as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, governor of the state and 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.
“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 whether Amaechi’s family and associates could have provided financial assistance for his mother’s medication, referring to his description of Amaechi’s wife as an industrialist and his comments about friends who attended the burial.
“Yet, an industrialist couldn’t give you money to buy drug for your mother,” he said.
Wike further said Amaechi could have sought assistance from friends whom he claimed had private jets and attended his mother’s burial.
“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 issue with Amaechi’s comments about his late mother’s happiness being connected to the outcome of the 2027 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.
He described the remarks as an inappropriate use of a deceased family member in political discourse.
“It is unfortunate people can descend so low to use their mother to play politics,” he said.
Wike nevertheless urged people to allow Amaechi’s late mother to rest, praying for her peace.
“But all of us should pray that the old woman who died would havnmhjhn nhe rest, would have peace with her Creator,” he added.
Amaechi’s mother, Ezinne Amaechi, died on July 16, 2026, at the age of 89, according to reports. Her death and the former governor’s subsequent comments have now become part of the continuing political exchanges between Amaechi and Wike.
The latest disagreement comes amid a long-running political rivalry between the two former allies, with Wike also criticising Amaechi earlier in the week over his record during 24 years in senior political positions.
