The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of politicising Nigeria’s Ebola response, insisting that the ₦10 billion approved by President Bola Tinubu for the emergency has not been spent.
The council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, made the position known in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, saying government agencies had relied on other available resources to respond to the reported Ebola case.
“On accountability, the Atiku camp should note that the N10 billion the President approved for the Ebola emergency in June remains untouched,” Alake said.
He explained that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other relevant agencies had strengthened surveillance at the country’s entry points to detect potential cases and limit the risk of transmission.
According to Alake, the surveillance system helped alert authorities to the index case and supported contact-tracing efforts involving 44 identified contacts.
The APC council commended the agencies for their role in monitoring the Ebola threat and supporting the national public health response.
It also criticised Atiku’s comments linking President Tinubu’s name to Ebola, arguing that such remarks risked turning a serious public health concern into political mockery.
“We believe linking and rhyming President Bola Tinubu’s name to Ebola only risks turning a serious health concern into a vehicle to ridicule the President,” Alake said.
The council also defended the handling of the reported case, pointing to the virus’s incubation period and the timing of symptoms.
Alake explained that Ebola’s incubation period ranges from two to 21 days, with symptoms commonly appearing eight to 10 days after exposure.
“An infected person cannot spread or transmit Ebola to others until they actively develop symptoms,” he said.
He urged opposition politicians to support health authorities rather than criticise the government’s efforts to contain the public health threat.
“A responsible opposition will applaud the Task Force for being responsive. But the Atiku camp always goes for cheap shots at the government,” Alake stated.
The APC council further rejected Atiku’s allegation that a ministerial briefing was intended to discourage Nigerians from attending political rallies or participating in elections.
Alake described the claim as speculative, insisting that the briefing was aimed at encouraging Nigerians to comply with public health guidelines issued by the task force.
He called on Atiku and his supporters to avoid politicising the Ebola situation, urging the public to reject rumours and follow guidance from health authorities.
“We advise Atiku Abubakar and his hirelings to avoid politicising public health issues,” he said.
The council maintained that protecting Nigerians from the disease should remain the priority as authorities continue their surveillance and containment efforts.
Source: NAN
