Tinubu’s Economic Policies Killed My Mother — Amaechi

African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies contributed to the death of his mother, Mary Amaechi.

Amaechi made the claim during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, while discussing the impact of the government’s economic policies and the hardship facing Nigerians.

The former Rivers State governor was asked whether Tinubu’s policies had contributed to his mother’s death.

“Of course, before Tinubu, my mother was healthy,” Amaechi responded.

The interviewer then questioned Amaechi about his personal responsibility to provide for his mother’s welfare, particularly in the face of the economic difficulties he was describing.

Amaechi pushed back, asking whether he had a choice given the number of people he said he was financially supporting.

“Do I have a choice? Do you know how many people I’m taking care of?” he said.

Amaechi’s mother, Mary Amaechi, died in July 2026 at the age of 89. Her death was announced by the ADC and the former governor’s media office at the time.

The former transportation minister has been critical of the Tinubu administration, particularly over the removal of the petrol subsidy and the resulting increase in transportation, food and other household costs.

Amaechi has argued that the economic pressure has placed a heavy burden on families, especially those struggling to meet basic needs.

His latest comments came amid a wider discussion about the 2027 presidential election, in which he is the running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the ADC ticket.

Earlier in the interview, Amaechi said he would withdraw from the ADC ticket and campaign for Tinubu if petrol sells for ₦600 per litre.

He said he would personally verify the price at a filling station if the Federal Government succeeded in bringing petrol down to that level.

Amaechi’s comments about his mother have added a personal dimension to his criticism of the administration’s economic policies and the broader debate over the rising cost of living in Nigeria.