APC Accuses Atiku of Politicising Ebola Outbreak, Says N10bn Fund Untouched

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of politicising Nigeria’s Ebola response, insisting that the N10 billion approved for the emergency remains untouched.

The council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, stated this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.

Alake said President Bola Tinubu approved the funds in June to support the Ebola emergency, but relevant agencies had relied on other available resources to manage the response.

He maintained that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other agencies had strengthened surveillance at entry points.

According to him, the surveillance network helped authorities identify the index case and initiate contact tracing for 44 people who may have been exposed.

The council commended the agencies for their efforts in monitoring the Ebola threat and supporting the national public health response.

Alake also criticised Atiku’s comments linking Tinubu’s name to Ebola, arguing that such remarks risked turning a serious health concern into an opportunity for political ridicule.

He defended the government’s handling of the infected Nigerian’s detection, citing the virus’s incubation period and the timing of symptoms.

According to Alake, Ebola symptoms typically appear between two and 21 days after exposure, with symptoms commonly developing within eight to 10 days.

He added that infected individuals could not transmit the virus to others before developing symptoms.

The APC council urged opposition politicians to support health authorities rather than use the outbreak to attack the government.

Alake described the opposition’s criticism as unnecessary and said a responsible opposition should acknowledge the efforts of the task force handling the outbreak.

The council also 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 compliance with safety protocols issued by the task force.

He urged Atiku and his supporters to avoid politicising public health concerns and called on Nigerians to shun rumours and follow guidance from relevant health authorities.

The council maintained that protecting Nigerians from the disease should remain the priority.