Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has accused Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation and vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), of “descending so low” by bringing his late mother into politics.
Wike spoke on Saturday during a visit to the Uzugbani Ekpeye
national executive council at Ekpeye House in Ahoada, Ahoada east LGA of Rivers
state.
The minister was reacting to Amaechi’s claim that the
policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration contributed to his mother’s
death.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s
Politics Today, on Friday, the former governor of Rivers said the rising cost
of medicines under the Tinubu administration made it difficult for his family
to care for his mother before her death.
“Because policies are killing people. I’ve lost my mother.
Before Tinubu, my mother was healthy. Suddenly, by the time Tinubu came, it was
difficult to buy drugs for my mother,” Amaechi had said.
Condemning the comments, the FCT minister said it was
unfortunate that Amaechi had brought his late mother into political arguments.
“Anybody who watched television last night would cry when
somebody is bringing his own mother to play politics. Your mother that we
thought should be resting peacefully,” Wike said.
He also criticised Amaechi’s statement that his mother would
be happy if the ADC won the 2027 election.
“In one of the videos, he said if ADC wins election, his
mother would be very happy,” Wike said.
“So, the only condition is that your mother will not be
happy if ADC does not win. Too bad! She will not be happy. But ADC will not
win. How can you bring a loved one who just died to bring in politics?”
WIKE QUERIES AMAECHI’S CLAIM HE COULD NOT AFFORD
MEDICATION
Wike questioned how Amaechi, who served as speaker of the
Rivers state house of assembly, governor and minister, could have been unable
to afford his mother’s medication.
“This was a speaker for eight years, from 1999 to 2007. This
was a governor for eight years, from 2007 to 2015,” he said.
“This was a minister for eight years, from 2015 to 2023, and
your mother was sick, and you are telling the whole world, and because of the
policy of Tinubu, you couldn’t buy drugs for your mother, and so your mother
died.”
Wike also questioned why Amaechi did not seek financial
assistance from his friends or associates if he could not afford the
medication.
“You have told the world that your wife is an industrialist,
yet an industrialist couldn’t give you money to buy drugs for your mother,” he
said.
“Look at who-is-who who came with all private jets to bury a
woman whom you could not buy drugs for because you were taking care of other
people. You didn’t tell them, ‘My mother was sick, can you help me? Give me
money; let me buy drugs.’”
Wike said Amaechi’s comments amounted to using his mother’s
death for political purposes.
“Maybe they refused to give you money, and then they now
came to bury your mother, and you accepted them. It is really unfortunate;
people can descend so low to use their mother to play politics,” he said.
“And you say that’s a good son. Wherever his mother is, can
she be happy? She cannot be happy. Why would you bring your mother because of
power? You think that people will have pity for you?”
Wike further challenged Amaechi’s claim that he was unable
to afford his mother’s drugs, referring to properties he said the former
governor owns in Old GRA, Port Harcourt, and Abuja.
“Look at the house you are living in in Old GRA, look at the
house you are living in in Abuja, and then you say you are unable to buy drugs,
and that was why your mother died. Enough is enough of this kind of
embarrassment,” he said.
Amaechi has repeatedly criticised the Tinubu administration
over its economic policies, including the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The former minister also said on AIT on Wednesday that he
would resign from office if Nigeria did not begin to experience change within
one year of an ADC administration should the party win the 2027 election.
“If Nigeria does not begin to change, one year after we have
come to office, come to me, I will resign,” Amaechi said.
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