- Reveals ₦10bn Emergency Fund Remains Untouched
- Defends Surveillance Agencies Amid Questions Over Emergency Preparedness
The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has launched a blistering counterattack against former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his demand for accountability for the ₦10 billion approved for Ebola preparedness, accusing the opposition figure of turning a grave public health emergency into a political weapon.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, the council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, declared that the former vice-president had crossed the line with what he described as repeated insults against President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the Ebola crisis should not become an excuse for political ridicule.
“When disrespect becomes the staple of political statements,” the council said, Alake accused Atiku of continuing to “foul up the political arena, with statement after statement dripping with insult and disrespect to the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The latest confrontation followed Atiku’s demand that the Federal Government account for the ₦10 billion Tinubu approved in June for Ebola preparedness after Nigeria confirmed an imported case of the disease in Abuja on October 20. Health authorities said the patient, a woman with a recent travel history to Uganda, was receiving treatment in isolation, while 44 close contacts had been identified for monitoring.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, had questioned the government’s preparedness, the handling of the case and the whereabouts of the emergency funds, demanding details of disbursements, contracts, recipients and supplies delivered.
But the APC campaign council has now offered a fresh explanation for the money, claiming that the ₦10 billion remains untouched and that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and other surveillance agencies have been using other available resources to respond to the threat.
“On accountability, the Atiku camp should note that the N10 billion the President approved for the Ebola emergency in June remains untouched, while the NCDC, FAAN, and other surveillance agencies have spent other available resources,” Alake said.
The assertion places the spotlight squarely on the management of the emergency allocation, with the council’s claim that the funds remain untouched raising further questions about when the money will be deployed, why it has not been used and what resources are currently financing the response.
APC Defends Airport Surveillance
Seeking to counter Atiku’s allegations of preparedness failures, the council argued that Nigeria’s surveillance network had helped authorities identify the infection and begin tracing exposed persons.
“The agencies deserve applause for mounting a robust surveillance at entry points to avert Ebola spread whenever it lands on our shores,” the statement said.
It added: “This surveillance network tipped off the government about the index case and led to contact tracing of the patient’s 44 contacts.”
The council also defended the delay between the patient’s arrival in Nigeria and confirmation of the infection, citing Ebola’s incubation period and the fact that infected persons generally do not transmit the virus before symptoms develop.
“For anyone infected with the virus, the incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days, with symptoms typically appearing 8 to 10 days after exposure. An infected person cannot spread or transmit Ebola to others until they actively develop symptoms,” the statement said.
The council maintained that these medical realities explained why the traveller was not detected as an Ebola case on arrival at Abuja airport and why the patient sought hospital treatment days later.
However, the World Health Organisation’s regional office reported that the patient developed symptoms on October 7, sought care at a private health facility on October 11 and tested positive on October 20. The WHO said investigations were continuing to establish the likely source of infection and reconstruct the patient’s travel and exposure history.
‘Cheap Shots At Government’
The APC campaign council accused Atiku’s camp of exploiting the outbreak for political advantage rather than supporting the authorities working to contain the disease.
“A responsible opposition will applaud the Task Force for being responsive. But the Atiku camp always goes for cheap shots at the government,” Alake declared.
The council also rejected Atiku’s suggestion that the government’s handling of the health emergency could be used to discourage attendance at campaign rallies or suppress voting.
“In this vein, we consider his allegation that a ministerial briefing is intended to discourage attendance at campaign rallies or voting speculative,” the statement said.
“Vice President Atiku cannot make such a serious allegation without verifiable evidence, especially in the thick of electioneering.”
Atiku had raised concerns about the potential impact of the outbreak and the possibility that public health measures could be used to restrict political participation. The APC council, however, insisted that the government’s briefing was not intended to interfere with democratic activities.
“In any way, the press conference did not raise this issue, except to appeal to the public to comply with the Task Force’s announced protocol,” Alake said.
June Approval Returns To Centre Of Debate
The ₦10 billion controversy dates back to June 9, when Tinubu approved emergency intervention funding and established a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats.
According to the Presidency’s announcement at the time, the funds were intended to strengthen the operational preparedness of the NCDC and support critical national public health emergency response activities. The task force was placed under the chairmanship of the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The confirmation of an Ebola case in Abuja has now turned that earlier approval into a major political and accountability issue, with the opposition demanding a public accounting and the ruling party’s campaign council insisting that the money has not been touched.
Atiku has called for transparency over the amount disbursed, the dates of payment, contracts awarded, recipients and items delivered. The APC council’s response, however, is that no part of the ₦10 billion has been spent.
The competing claims have intensified scrutiny of the emergency response, even as health authorities continue contact tracing and surveillance to prevent further transmission.
‘Nigerians Deserve Protection’
Despite the sharp political exchanges, the APC council urged Nigerians and political actors to put public safety above partisan interests.
“We advise Atiku Abubakar and his hirelings to avoid politicising public health issues,” the statement said.
“A time like this demands that all Nigerians, including the opposition, rally around the health authorities and professionals, communicate responsibly, avoid rumour-mongering, and follow the protocols advised by the Task Force to ensure Ebola does not become a national epidemic.”
The council concluded with a pointed reminder of what it described as the overriding national priority.
“Nigerians deserve, first of all, protection from the deadly disease,” Alake said.
