Why I Didn’t Visit Amaechi After His Mother’s Burial—Nyesom Wike

According to a report by TVC News on Tuesday September 22, 2026, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has explained why he did not visit former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, following the death and burial of Amaechi’s mother, Dame Ezinne Mary Oduah Amaechi.

Wike said his decision was influenced by the fact that Amaechi did not personally inform him about the death of his mother. According to the minister, he received no letter or direct communication from the former governor notifying him of the bereavement.

Speaking during an interview with TVC News, Wike was asked about his absence from the burial ceremony and his decision not to visit Amaechi afterward.

“Amaechi never wrote me or told me that he had lost his mother; he never. So I cannot,” Wike said.

The FCT minister explained that he considered direct communication from Amaechi important, particularly given their long political history and the circumstances surrounding the former governor’s loss.

Wike also raised questions about Amaechi’s activities during the mourning period. He referred to the former governor’s appearance at the Nigerian Bar Association conference, where, according to Wike, political issues were discussed.

The minister alleged that Amaechi used the platform to speak about political matters and defend the record of the political platform with which he was associated.

Wike contrasted Amaechi’s conduct with a position he said the former governor had previously taken during an earlier disagreement involving Cardinal John Onaiyekan.

According to Wike, Amaechi had argued at the time that a person mourning the death of a parent should avoid engaging publicly in political activities.

The FCT minister therefore questioned the consistency of that position with Amaechi’s own activities during the period of mourning for his mother.

Wike further alleged that Amaechi was seeking political support around the period of his mother’s burial.

He questioned why he should be expected to participate in the condolence process while, in his view, political activities were taking place around the mourning period.

Beyond the issue of communication and political activities, Wike also referred to their history, claiming that Amaechi had not shown him similar sympathy when Wike himself experienced bereavement.

Amaechi’s mother was buried in Ubima on September 5, with the ceremony attended by several prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, alongside other serving and former public officials.

Wike was not present at the burial. Instead, he attended a civic reception held in his honour in Omagwa on the same day.

The simultaneous events attracted considerable political attention, particularly because Omagwa and Ubima are located within the same local government area.

Reports from the day also indicated a heavy security presence around the Omagwa-Ubima road.

Wike and Amaechi have maintained a longstanding political rivalry dating back to their years in Rivers State politics. Amaechi served as governor of Rivers State before Wike succeeded him as governor in 2015.

Their political relationship has remained a subject of public discussion, with disagreements between the two men frequently resurfacing in political debates concerning Rivers State and the wider Nigerian political landscape.

Against that background, Wike’s absence from Amaechi’s mother’s burial generated attention, particularly given the presence of several other prominent political figures at the ceremony.

His latest explanation, however, focuses on what he described as Amaechi’s failure to personally notify him about his mother’s death, as well as his criticism of the former governor’s conduct during the mourning period.

Wike’s remarks provide his account of why he chose not to visit Amaechi after the bereavement, while also highlighting the unresolved political differences that have characterised their relationship over the years.