Former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has broken his silence following the death of his mother, Dame Ezinne Mary Oduah Amaechi.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Amaechi took to his official X account on Monday night, where he shared a photograph of himself standing beside his late mother.
The image was posted with the hashtag #NewProfilePic and has also been made his new profile picture on the social media platform.
The post marked Amaechi’s first public activity since the passing of his 89-year-old mother. Although he did not include a written message, the photograph quickly drew attention from supporters, friends and political associates, many of whom flooded the comment section with condolence messages and prayers for him and his family.
The development comes days after several prominent political and religious leaders visited Amaechi’s residence to sympathise with him and his wife, Dame Judith Amaechi, over the loss of the family matriarch.
Former Senate President David Mark was among the first high-profile visitors, alongside former Edo State Governor and former APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and other leaders of the ADC, who paid tribute to the late Dame Mary Amaechi and offered prayers for the bereaved family.
Also among those who visited were the ADC governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom State, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, accompanied by the party’s National Women Leader, Mrs Naomi Abel. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also sent a delegation led by the Dujima of Adamawa, Alhaji Musa Halilu OFR, to convey his condolences.
Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Dr Abubakar Malami (SAN), also paid a condolence visit to Amaechi’s residence to personally sympathise with the family.
Other visitors included women from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State led by Hajia Safiyah Anivbassa, Adamawa governorship candidate Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani) and her husband, Professor Ahmed Modibbo, as well as ADC FCT women leaders led by Hajiya Jummai Mohammed.
Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, also visited Amaechi, offering prayers and words of comfort to the grieving family.
Also present were Hajiya Asia El-Rufai and Hajiya Aichatou El-Rufai, wives of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. Former Sokoto State Governor Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Minister of Information Senator Naomi Patricia Akwashiki, former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha and his wife, Lady Ebere Ihedioha, Dr Kashim Ibrahim-Imam and former Anambra governorship candidate Dr George Moghalu also visited to pay their respects.
Earlier, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, personally visited Amaechi and his wife to condole with them. Before the visit, Obi had written, “My dear brother, I was saddened to hear of the passing of your beloved mother. Losing a parent… is a profound loss that words can scarcely comfort.”
President Bola Tinubu also mourned Dame Ezinne Mary Oduah Amaechi, describing her as “a champion of faith whose life was marked by humility and selfless service to humanity.”
The President added, “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.”
Dame Ezinne Mary Oduah Amaechi died at the age of 89. Her death was announced by Amaechi’s media office, which described her as a beloved matriarch whose life was defined by faith, love, peace and unity.
