'You fouled up the arena' - APC blasts Atiku for linking Tinubu's name to Ebola

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council, has slammed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his statement on the Ebola case in Nigeria.

In a press release signed by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, on Thursday, the Council accused Atiku of disrespecting the office of the President.

"When disrespect becomes the staple of political statements, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar continues to foul up the political arena, with statement after statement dripping with insult and disrespect to the office of the President," the Council said.

The council said a statement credited to Atiku opened with a title linking President Bola Tinubu's first name to Ebola and questioning how the Presidential Task Force spent the N10 billion approved for the emergency.

"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 of the Federal Republic," it said.

The council explained that Atiku's statement showed ignorance about the virus and why the traveller from Uganda was not detected on arrival at the Abuja airport.

It noted that 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, and that an infected person cannot spread Ebola until they develop symptoms.

"This is why it took the infected Nigerian some days before reporting to the hospital, where several tests showed that the person had Ebola," it said.

On accountability, the Council said the N10 billion President Tinubu approved for the Ebola emergency in June remains untouched, while the NCDC, FAAN, and other surveillance agencies have spent other available resources.

It said the agencies deserve applause for mounting robust surveillance at entry points, which tipped off the government about the index case and led to contact tracing of 44 contacts.

The APC dismissed Atiku's allegation that a ministerial briefing is intended to discourage attendance at campaign rallies or voting, describing it as speculative and without verifiable evidence.

"We advise Atiku Abubakar and his hirelings to avoid politicising public health issues. A time like this demands that all Nigerians, including the opposition, rally around the health authorities," the statement added.

'You fouled up the arena' - APC blasts Atiku for linking Tinubu's name to Ebola