Former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration contributed to the death of his mother, Mary Amaechi.
Amaechi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election, made the allegation during an interview on Channels Television on Friday.
The former governor criticised the removal of fuel subsidy, questioning how the funds saved by the policy had been used to improve the lives of Nigerians.
“Where are those funds saved from the removal of subsidy? The purpose of subsidy removal is to better the lives of citizens. But where is the money? I want to feel it. Everybody wants to feel it. I don’t hate Tinubu. He knows I love him. But I disagree with him,” he said.
Asked why he disagreed with the President, Amaechi said the administration’s policies were worsening the living conditions of Nigerians.
“Because his policies are killing people. I lost my mother. Many have lost their persons,” he said.
When the interviewer asked whether he was directly attributing his mother’s death to Tinubu’s policies, Amaechi responded, “Of course.”
He explained that his mother had been healthy before Tinubu assumed office but said the rising cost of medication subsequently made it difficult for him to afford her drugs.
“Before Tinubu became president, my mother was healthy. After he became president, it was difficult for me to buy drugs for my mother,” he said.
Amaechi’s mother, Mary Amaechi, died on July 16, 2026, at the age of 89. The family had described her as a devoted Christian and respected community leader.
The allegation is Amaechi’s personal account linking his mother’s death to the economic hardship he says followed the government’s reforms; it does not by itself establish a medical or causal connection between the policies and her death.
As of the time of filing the report, attempts to obtain a response from Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, were unsuccessful.
