ADC faults APC response to Atiku’s questions over N10bn Ebola preparedness fund

By Ayobami Okerinde The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of avoiding questions about the status of the N10bn approved for Ebola preparedness, following the confirmation of a case in Abuja. In a statement on Friday, the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, said the APC had focused on President Bola Tinubu’s name sounding like ‘Ebola’ instead of explaining what happened to the funds.

“They found the rhyme, wrote a lengthy press statement about it and somehow still could not tell Nigerians where the ₦10 billion ordered released for Ebola preparedness is. If only they searched the accounts with the same enthusiasm they brought to the dictionary.” The statement followed an APC response to ADC’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over the N10bn that the Presidency announced in June had been ordered released for Ebola preparedness.

It added that while Ebola destroys lives through disease, Tinubu’s policies had made food and medical care unaffordable and hurt businesses Nigerians had spent years building. Shaibu also said the APC had claimed the money remained “untouched” despite the announcement and demanded clarification on whether it had been released and where it was being held.

“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. Shaibu also questioned the timeline of the response to the case confirmed in Abuja, citing the World Health Organisation’s account that the patient developed symptoms on October 7, sought treatment at a private facility on October 11 and received laboratory confirmation on October 20. He asked when Ebola was first suspected, when public health authorities were alerted, when testing was ordered and when contact tracing began.

“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,”Sahibu said. “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.” Shaibu further urged the government to clarify any proposed restrictions on campaigning or voting during the health emergency, arguing that public health measures should not be used as political tools.

“Public health guidance must protect people. It must never become a political tool,” he said. He called on the Presidency and the APC to account for the ₦10bn, explain the response timeline and provide details of the measures taken to contain the outbreak.