Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has asked the Federal Government to tell Nigerians where the N10 billion that it earmarked for Ebola response is.
On 9 June, the Presidency announced that President Bola Tinubu had ordered the immediate release of ₦10 billion for Ebola emergency preparedness.
Following the discovery of an index case in Abuja, concerns have been raised about the money.
The Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had earlier demanded explanations about the money, warning Nigerians not to politicise the Ebola issue.
Responding Dele Alake, spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, said the money had not been touched.
He also accused Atiku of denigrating the office of the President by constantly referring to the Commander-in-Chief as Bola, his first name.
Alake also said rather than commend the Federal agencies for tracking and isolating the index Ebola patient and taking steps to preventing the disease from spreading, the opposition “had been trivialising the issue”.
In a statement issued on his behalf by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku insisted that the N10 billion must be accounted for.
“Ebola destroys lives through disease. Bola’s policies have made food and medical care unaffordable and buried businesses that Nigerians spent years building. Yet the APC wants a debate about how two words sound. Atiku Abubakar asked for the money trail and an account of the emergency response. The party in power came back with a pronunciation lesson. What an extraordinary way to tell a frightened country it has no answers.
“Now, with a case confirmed in Abuja, the APC says the money remains “untouched”. It presents that claim as a defence. It is an indictment of the Bola administration.
“Was the money released or was it not? If it was released, where is it held, who controls it, and why has it not been used for the preparedness President Tinubu announced? If it was never released, why was an order for its immediate release announced in June? Publish the release documents, the account records and the Task Force’s expenditure reports. Insulting Atiku Abubakar will not account for one naira.
“The APC says an infected person cannot transmit Ebola before symptoms appear. That is true. It does not answer what happened after symptoms appeared. According to the World Health Organization’s account, the patient developed symptoms on 7th October, sought care at a private facility on 11th October, and received laboratory confirmation on 20th October. When was Ebola first suspected? When were public health authorities alerted? When was testing ordered? When did contact tracing begin?
“The APC claims surveillance “tipped off” the government. Then publish the timeline. Name the agency that raised the alert, give the date and explain the action taken. 44 identified contacts are people whose health must be protected. They are not a trophy for an APC press release.
“Health workers treating the patient and tracing contacts deserve protection, equipment and every resource needed to act quickly. Questioning the government’s preparedness is no insult to them. Demanding applause for President Tinubu while refusing to explain an untouched emergency fund is an insult to Nigerians.
“The APC also objects to our warning that a health emergency must never be used to interfere with campaigning or voting. President Tinubu’s government can address that concern directly: publish any proposed restrictions, their medical justification and the advice of the health authorities. Public health guidance must protect people. It must never become a political tool.
“President Tinubu ordered ₦10 billion released in June. His party now says it is untouched. That contradiction came from the Presidency and the APC. They should resolve it with records. Show Nigerians where the money is. Explain the response timeline. Protect health workers. Trace every contact. President Tinubu and the APC owe the country answers not ‘Bola-Ebola’ tales.”
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