Amaechi blames Tinubu’s policies for difficulty paying mother’s medical bills

African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of contributing to the death of his mother, saying economic hardship made it difficult for him to afford her medicines. Amaechi, a former Rivers State governor and transportation minister, made the allegation during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today. His mother, Ezinne Amaechi, died on July 16 at the age of 89.

He said she had been healthy before 2023 but that buying her medication became difficult after the change in government. Amaechi has repeatedly criticised the administration over the cost of living and the effects of its economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy. His comments followed President Tinubu’s Independence Day address, in which the President defended the reforms as measures that had corrected structural weaknesses and would eventually produce shared prosperity.

Amaechi challenged the President over petrol prices, saying he would withdraw as running mate to Atiku Abubakar and campaign for Tinubu if petrol sold for N600 per litre. He said he would personally verify the price at a filling station. He also characterised the 2027 election as a choice between life and death, alleging that Tinubu represented “the choice of death”.

Amaechi further accused the current administration of being more visibly corrupt than the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari, under whom he served. Amaechi denied involvement in corruption and challenged the administration to identify a major infrastructure project completed since 2023. He compared its record with projects delivered under Buhari, citing the Abuja-Kaduna rail line as an example.