Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Federal Government to account for the ₦10 billion reportedly approved for Ebola emergency preparedness, insisting that the ruling party’s response has failed to clarify the whereabouts and status of the funds.
Atiku, through Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, said on Friday that the government should publish the relevant financial records and provide a detailed account of its emergency response.
The challenge followed the APC’s response to Atiku’s earlier demand for accountability over the fund, which was reportedly earmarked for Ebola preparedness after President Bola Tinubu ordered its immediate release on June 9.
In a statement, Atiku criticised the ruling party for focusing on a play on the names “Bola” and “Ebola” rather than addressing questions about the money.
“President Bola Tinubu through Dele Alake and the APC have made a remarkable discovery: ‘Bola’ sounds like ‘Ebola.’ We had not noticed. 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,” the statement said.
Atiku also criticised the government’s policies, arguing that their effects on Nigerians’ access to food, healthcare and economic opportunities were severe.
He maintained that the central issue was not political rhetoric but whether the funds had been released, where they were being held and why they had allegedly remained unused despite the stated need for emergency preparedness.
“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 in June?” he asked.
The former Vice-President called on the Federal Government to publish the release documents, account records and expenditure reports of the relevant task force to enable Nigerians to assess how the funds had been managed.
He argued that the APC’s reported claim that the money remained untouched raised further questions about the government’s preparedness and its handling of the public health emergency.
Atiku also questioned the timeline of the response to the reported Ebola case in Abuja, seeking clarification on when the infection was first suspected, when public health authorities were alerted, when testing was ordered and when contact tracing began.
Referring to an account attributed to the World Health Organisation (WHO), he said the patient reportedly developed symptoms on October 7, sought treatment at a private health facility on October 11, and received laboratory confirmation on October 20.
He argued that the government should provide a clear chronology of events to establish how quickly the relevant health authorities responded after symptoms emerged.
“The APC says surveillance ‘tipped off’ the government. Then publish the timeline. Name the agency that raised the alert, give the date and explain the action taken,” the statement said.
Atiku also questioned the reported identification of 44 contacts, insisting that the priority should be to protect their health and ensure that appropriate public health measures were implemented.
He commended health workers involved in treating the patient and tracing contacts, stressing that they deserved adequate protection, equipment and resources to carry out their duties effectively.
According to him, questioning the government’s preparedness should not be interpreted as an attack on frontline health personnel, but as a demand for transparency and accountability from those responsible for managing public funds and responding to emergencies.
The ADC chieftain further warned against any attempt to use a public health emergency to interfere with political campaigning or voting.
He called on the Tinubu administration to publish any proposed restrictions, the medical justification for them and the advice received from relevant health authorities.
Atiku maintained that public health measures should be guided by medical evidence and the protection of citizens, rather than political considerations.
The statement concluded with a renewed demand for the Federal Government to clarify the status of the ₦10 billion, disclose the emergency response timeline and demonstrate that adequate measures were in place to protect the public.
The claims and questions raised by Atiku place renewed emphasis on the need for transparent management of emergency funds and clear public communication during health crises. The Federal Government’s detailed financial records and response timeline would be necessary to independently establish the status of the funds and assess the preparedness measures undertaken.
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