Tinubu’s ₦10bn Ebola emergency fund still untouched, APC campaign council replies Atiku

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his recent statements regarding the Ebola case in Nigeria. In a press release, the council accused Atiku of disrespecting the office of the President, stating that his remarks have been consistently insulting and disrespectful.

The council highlighted a statement attributed to Atiku, which began with a title linking President Bola Tinubu's first name to Ebola and questioned the allocation of N10 billion for the emergency response. The council argued that this type of behavior risks trivializing a serious health concern. They pointed out that Atiku's statement demonstrated a lack of understanding regarding the virus and why the traveler from Uganda was not detected upon arrival at the Abuja airport.

Furthermore, the APC council expressed concern over the unspent N10 billion earmarked for the Ebola emergency, which was approved by President Tinubu in June. They commended the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and other surveillance agencies for their robust surveillance efforts at entry points, which led to the early detection of the infected individual and the subsequent contact tracing of 44 contacts.

The council dismissed Atiku's allegation that a ministerial briefing aimed to deter attendance at campaign rallies or voting, deeming it speculative and lacking any verifiable evidence. They urged Atiku and his associates to refrain from politicizing public health issues and emphasized the importance of all Nigerians, including the opposition, supporting the health authorities during this critical time.