N10b Ebola Fund: ADC slams APC response to Atiku’s questions
by Adenle Ahmed Abiola · The Eagle OnlineThe African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of avoiding questions about the status of the N10 billion reportedly approved for Ebola preparedness, following the confirmation of a case in Abuja.
The ADC also demanded explanations from the Federal Government over Nigeria’s response to the confirmed case, including the timeline for detecting the infection and commencing contact tracing.
The Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, made the demands in a statement issued on Friday.
Shaibu was reacting to the APC’s response to concerns raised by ADC’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over the government’s handling of the Ebola outbreak.
He accused the ruling party of focusing 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.”
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,” Shaibu 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.”
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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 N10 billion, explain the response timeline and provide details of the measures taken to contain the outbreak.
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