Former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration contributed to the death of his mother, saying the rising cost of medicines made it difficult for his family to provide the drugs she needed.

Amaechi, who is the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, made the allegation during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday.

Speaking about the effect of the government’s economic policies on ordinary Nigerians, Amaechi said his mother had been healthy before Tinubu became president but that the increasing cost of medication later made it difficult to care for her.

“Because policies are killing people. I’ve lost my mother,” Amaechi said.

He went further, saying he believed the President’s policies were responsible for his mother’s inability to live longer.

“Before Tinubu, my mother was healthy. Suddenly, by the time Tinubu came, it was difficult to buy drugs for my mother,” he said.

When asked whether he was directly attributing his mother’s death to Tinubu’s policies, Amaechi responded in the affirmative.

Amaechi also argued that his experience was part of a wider problem affecting Nigerian families who are struggling with the rising cost of healthcare and medicines.

He questioned why his mother could not live to an older age like some of the elderly parents of people he knows, arguing that the rising cost of medication had become a serious burden.

The former minister linked the situation to Nigeria’s dependence on imported pharmaceutical products and the wider economic difficulties following the government’s reforms.

Amaechi has repeatedly criticised the Tinubu administration, particularly its removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy has increased pressure on households through higher transportation and living costs.

The Tinubu administration has maintained that its economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy, were necessary to address longstanding problems in the Nigerian economy and strengthen government finances.

Amaechi’s latest comments therefore form part of the wider political debate over the impact of the reforms on Nigerians, especially the cost of living and access to healthcare.

Reports say Amaechi’s mother, Mary Amaechi, died in July 2026. However, the claim that government policies caused her death remains Amaechi’s allegation and has not been independently established as a medical or causal fact.

The comments are coming as political activity increases ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election, with Amaechi campaigning on the ADC platform alongside former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Amaechi has also challenged Nigerians to judge political leaders by the effect of their policies on ordinary families, particularly in areas such as healthcare, transportation and the cost of living.

He questioned where the money saved from subsidy removal had gone and argued that Nigerians should be able to see tangible benefits from the policy.

The former minister has increasingly focused his criticism on the economic difficulties facing Nigerians as political activity ahead of the 2027 elections intensifies.

The presidency’s response to Amaechi’s specific allegation about his mother’s death was not available in the reports reviewed at the time of publication.

Utelnova | Politics