NEWS
Amaechi’s Mother Buried In Ubima Amid Reported Road Blockade, Political Gathering
Dame Ezinne Mary Oduah Amaechi, the 89-year-old mother of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has been laid to rest in her hometown of Ubima, Rivers State, amid the presence of prominent political figures and reports of movement restrictions along the Omagwa-Ubima road.
The burial, which took place on Saturday, attracted former political leaders, members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), friends, associates and other dignitaries who gathered to pay their final respects to the late matriarch.
However, the funeral was accompanied by controversy after Chizi Enyi, the Rivers State Publicity Secretary of the ADC, alleged that a section of the major road linking Omagwa to Ubima had been barricaded by the police.
Enyi made the allegation in a video shared on Saturday, claiming that the development affected the movement of mourners and other visitors heading to Ubima for the burial.
“The Nigerian Police have helped Wike to block a Section of the Omagwa road in Rivers State and this is major road leading to Ubima, for the burial of Rotimi Amaechi’s Late Mother,” Enyi said.
According to the ADC spokesman, the affected section of the road was located around the same area where a political gathering was being held in honour of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Enyi alleged that the police had barricaded an entire lane of the road, leading to congestion and making movement towards Ubima difficult at a time when mourners and political leaders were arriving for the funeral.
Controversy Over Omagwa Event:
The reported road situation came against the backdrop of an earlier controversy over a reception organised for Wike in Omagwa on the same day as Dame Amaechi’s burial.
Enyi had previously accused Wike of working with the Ikwerre Local Government Chairman, Charles Wobodo, to organise the reception, alleging that residents had also been mobilised for a wrestling competition.
“We got credible information that Wike has conspired with the Ikwerre LGA Chairman to hold a reception in his honour at Omagwa and they have mobilized the people to do a wrestling competition,” Enyi had said.
He further alleged that the proximity between Omagwa and Ubima could create difficulties for mourners travelling to the burial.
“The essence of the reception tomorrow at Omagwa is to shutdown the access road leading to Ubima, the home town of H.E. Rotimi Amaechi,” the ADC spokesman alleged.
Despite the concerns raised before the burial, Enyi insisted that nothing would prevent the former governor’s mother from being laid to rest.
“The mother of Rotimi Amaechi will be laid to rest and no matter what, nothing can stop it,” he said.
The burial subsequently went ahead in Ubima as scheduled.
Atiku, Obi, Other Dignitaries Attend Funeral:
The funeral drew prominent political figures from across Nigeria, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar among those who arrived in Rivers State to honour the deceased.
Atiku is the presidential candidate of the ADC for the 2027 election, while Amaechi serves as his running mate.
The former vice president had earlier visited Amaechi at his Abuja residence in July to offer his condolences following the death of his mother.
Former Anambra State Governor and NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi was also among the prominent figures who participated in the funeral activities.
Obi attended the wake-keeping and service of songs held on Friday at Corpus Christi Catholic Cathedral in Port Harcourt, ahead of Saturday’s burial.
Other dignitaries who attended the service included former Edo State Governor and senator, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor; former Edo State Governor and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus; former senator and Silverbird Group founder, Ben Murray-Bruce; former Rivers State Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia; and former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Tele Ikuru.
Obi, Tinubu Pay Tribute To Late Matriarch:
Obi had earlier expressed his condolences to Amaechi over the loss of his mother.
“My Condolences to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on the Passing of His Mother,” Obi wrote.
“My dear brother, I was saddened to hear of the passing of your beloved mother. Losing a parent, especially a matriarch who contributed so much to her family and community is a profound loss that words can scarcely comfort.”
He added, “On behalf of my family, I extend our deepest condolences to you, the entire Amaechi family, and all who are mourning this monumental loss.”
President Bola Tinubu also mourned Dame Amaechi, describing her as “a champion of faith whose life was marked by humility and selfless service to humanity.”
“My heartfelt condolences to Rt. Hon. Amaechi, the entire Amaechi family, the Catholic faithful, and the government and people of Rivers State over the loss of Dame Ezinne Amaechi. May Almighty God grant her soul eternal rest and comfort all who mourn her passing at this difficult time,” Tinubu said.
Other prominent Nigerians who visited Amaechi or expressed condolences included former Senate President David Mark, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha.
Burial Overshadowed By Political Undertones:
Beyond the solemnity of the funeral, Saturday’s events attracted considerable attention because of the political history connecting Amaechi and Wike.
Amaechi governed Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 before becoming Minister of Transportation under former President Muhammadu Buhari. Wike succeeded him as governor and later became Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under President Bola Tinubu.
The two men have remained on opposing sides of Rivers State’s often intense political landscape, making the simultaneous burial and civic reception in nearby communities particularly noteworthy.
Wike was listed as the guest of honour at the civic reception in Omagwa, which was scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at St. Martins Anglican Church.
While the burial has now been concluded, allegations surrounding the reported road blockade and the proximity of the two events have added a political dimension to what was otherwise a deeply personal occasion for the Amaechi family.
Dame Ezinne Mary Oduah Amaechi has now been laid to rest in Ubima, with family members, friends, political associates and dignitaries bidding farewell to the woman whose life and family legacy became the focus of a major gathering in Rivers State on Saturday.