The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has accused Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress’ 2027 presidential candidate, of politicising the Ebola outbreak to ridicule President Bola Tinubu.
The council, in a statement on Thursday by its spokesman, Dele Alake, reacted to Mr Abubakar’s statement questioning Mr Tinubu’s administration on how it spent N10 billion from the emergency fund earmarked for Ebola preparedness in June.
“A statement credited to the former vice president on the latest public health issue opened with a title linking the president’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,” the council stated.
The council also alleged that Mr Abubakar’s statement exemplified his ignorance about the deadly virus.
It added, “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 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The statement showed patent ignorance about the virus and why the traveller from Uganda was not detected on arrival at the Abuja airport.”
The council insisted that the emergency fund remained untouched, adding that relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, had expended other available resources to avert the disease.
“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. The agencies deserve applause for mounting a robust surveillance at entry points to avert Ebola spread whenever it lands on our shores,” the statement noted.
The council warned Mr Abubakar and his supporters against politicising public health issues.
“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,” it added.
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