Tinubu’s Reforms Made It Difficult For Me To Buy My Mother’s Drugs — Amaechi

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

Amaechi made the allegation during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, where he discussed the impact of the administration’s economic reforms and the rising cost of living.

The former Rivers State governor said his mother had been in good health before Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, but claimed that the rising cost of medicines subsequently made it increasingly difficult for his family to afford the drugs she required.

Amaechi said his experience was an indication of the wider difficulties Nigerians face in accessing healthcare amid rising prices.

“Because policies are killing people. I’ve lost my mother. You want me to mention my friends who are 90 or 92 years old? Why do you think my mother couldn’t live up to 92? Tinubu was the reason. Before Tinubu, my mother was healthy,” he said.

He added that the situation changed after the new administration came into office, saying the family struggled to purchase the medicines his mother needed.

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

He further argued that the rising cost of medicines was affecting many other Nigerians whose families were struggling to meet healthcare expenses.

Amaechi linked the hardship to the administration’s broader economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy, which has contributed to higher transportation and living costs.

The ADC vice-presidential candidate also questioned the extent to which Nigerians were benefiting from funds saved following the removal of the subsidy.

His comments came as he continued his criticism of the Tinubu administration ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

President Tinubu, however, has defended his economic reforms, arguing in his October 1 Independence Day address that the measures were introduced to address longstanding structural weaknesses in the economy. He acknowledged that the reforms had brought hardship but maintained that the government would not return to the previous subsidy regime.

Amaechi’s claim about his mother’s death is his personal allegation; the reports reviewed do not independently establish a medical cause of death or a direct causal link between government policy and her death.