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 his claim that the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration contributed to the death of his mother.
Amaechi made the claim during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, October 2, where he said the policies of the Tinubu administration had increased the cost of healthcare in Nigeria and affected his ability to afford medication for his mother, who died in July.
Reacting to the claim, Wike accused Amaechi of bringing his late mother into political arguments.
Wike said he was particularly concerned by what he described as the use of a deceased parent in political discourse.
He said:
“You know, it’s unfortunate. I thought, for whatever reason, that we must respect our parents. For anyone who watched the TV last night where somebody was using his own mother to place politics, your mother that we thought should be resting peacefully.”
Wike also referred to another comment reportedly made by Amaechi concerning his mother and the ADC’s chances in the forthcoming election.
According to Wike, Amaechi had said his mother would be happy if the ADC won the election.
He added:
“In one of the videos, he said if ADC wins the election, his mother would be very, very happy. So the only conclusion is that your mother will not be happy if ADC does not win. Too bad, she will not be happy because ADC will not win. You are the one who mentioned your mother.
“How dare you bring a loved one who’s not alive into politics?”
Wike further addressed Amaechi’s claim that the Tinubu administration contributed to his mother’s death by making it difficult for him to afford her medication.
He said:
“Again, he said it was Tinubu’s administration that killed his mother, that made him not to be able to buy drugs for his mother.”
The FCT minister also questioned why Amaechi, given his previous positions in government and personal resources, could not seek financial assistance from friends, relatives or family members to support his mother’s medical treatment.
Wike noted that Amaechi 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.
He also referred to Amaechi’s description of his wife as an industrialist, questioning why he could not seek assistance from her to purchase the medication.
Wike further referenced the large number of people who attended Amaechi’s mother’s burial, arguing that some of those relatives and associates could have offered assistance while she was alive.
Concluding his remarks, Wike said:
“It is very unfortunate that people can descend so low to use your mother to play politics. And you say that’s a good son? Wherever his mother is, can she be happy? She cannot be happy! Why will you bring up your mother? Because you think people will have pity for you? Nobody will pity you because they know you are telling lies.
“Instead of me to have such a child, may I be childless.”
