African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate 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 medication made it increasingly difficult for him to afford the drugs she needed.
Amaechi made the allegation during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, where he criticised the impact of the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms on Nigerians.
The former Rivers State governor said his mother was in good health before Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
According to Amaechi, the situation changed after the cost of medicines rose, making it increasingly difficult to purchase the medication his mother required.
“The policies Tinubu introduced are killing people. I lost my mother because of the policies. We have lost people. President Tinubu’s policies killed my mother,” he said.
Amaechi said he personally faced difficulties meeting the rising cost of his mother’s medication despite making efforts to provide the necessary care.
“Before Tinubu became President, my mother was healthy. Suddenly, when Tinubu came, it became difficult to buy drugs for my mother. I did the best I could in taking care of my mother,” Amaechi added.
His remarks came during a discussion on the broader effects of the Federal Government’s economic measures, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange system.
Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy shortly after his inauguration in May 2023.
The administration has maintained that the decision was necessary because the subsidy placed significant pressure on government finances, with the savings expected to be redirected towards infrastructure and other areas of national development.
However, the policy resulted in a significant rise in petrol prices and transportation costs, with the impact also extending to the prices of goods and services.
Amaechi questioned whether Nigerians were receiving enough benefits from the savings generated by the removal of the subsidy.
He argued that the reform was supposed to improve the welfare of citizens rather than leave families struggling to afford essential needs.
The ADC candidate also raised concerns about the effect of the economic situation on healthcare, particularly the rising prices of medicines for families dependent on regular treatment.
Amaechi’s allegation followed the death of his mother, Mary Amaechi, who died on July 16, 2026, at the age of 89.
Her family described her as a respected community leader and a committed Christian.
Her death had earlier attracted condolences from several political figures, including President Tinubu.
The President described the late Mary Amaechi as a woman whose life was marked by faith, sacrifice and service to others.
Amaechi has continued to criticise the economic direction of the government as preparations for the 2027 general election intensify.
The former governor maintained that government policies should ultimately be assessed based on their impact on ordinary people and individual households.
For Amaechi, the difficulty he encountered in obtaining medication for his mother became an example of what he described as the hardship caused by the prevailing economic situation.
He maintained that many other Nigerian families were facing comparable challenges but lacked the financial resources needed to cope with rising healthcare costs.
The Federal Government, however, has continued to defend its economic reforms, describing them as necessary steps towards addressing longstanding weaknesses in the Nigerian economy.
The State House has described the removal of the petrol subsidy and foreign exchange reforms as measures aimed at strengthening public finances, attracting investment and creating the conditions for long-term economic recovery.
The government has also introduced measures intended to reduce the impact of the reforms on vulnerable Nigerians.
Among the interventions are cash transfers, CNG initiatives and other programmes targeted at people considered vulnerable.
In a related development, Politics Nigeria recalls that Amaechi’s mother was buried in September 2026, with political figures and associates gathering in Ubima, Rivers State, to honour the late matriarch.
Reports on the funeral stated that she died at the age of 89 and was remembered by her family as a woman who dedicated her life to her family, faith and community.
