Don’t use Ebola to discourage Nigerians from voting, Atiku tells FG – Daily Trust

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the Tinubu administration’s failure to account for the ₦10 billion authorised for Ebola preparedness, saying the confirmed case in Abuja has uncovered a harmful breakdown within the authorities’s response.

He additionally warned in opposition to utilizing the outbreak to suppress political exercise and discourage Nigerians from voting.

In a press release by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku mentioned: “Ebola is a grave public well being menace. Nigerians deserve pressing motion, competent management and the reality. Instead, the primary confirmed case in Abuja has uncovered unanswered questions on preparedness, surveillance and the safety of well being staff. Tinubu should account for the ₦10 billion he mentioned can be launched instantly in June.

“Where is the cash? Publish the quantity really disbursed, the dates of cost, each contract awarded, each recipient and each merchandise delivered. If the cash was not launched, Tinubu should clarify why he introduced emergency funding that by no means reached the individuals answerable for defending Nigerians. A press assertion can’t exchange an audit.

“The timeline is damning. The affected person arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed signs on October 7 and sought care at a non-public hospital on October 11. The authorities didn’t affirm the case publicly till October 20, 9 days after she sought care. During that important interval, 44 shut contacts have been left unmonitored, whereas personal well being staff confronted the case with out sufficient protecting gear. This is a failure of preparedness with doubtlessly grave penalties.

“The authorities should disclose what occurred at each stage. What journey historical past and publicity screening have been carried out? What follow-up started when the affected person developed signs? When have been the 44 contacts first reached and monitored? Why have been frontline workers left with out the safety they wanted? Nigerians deserve solutions, and people answerable for these failures have to be held accountable.

“In June, Tinubu introduced a Presidential Task Force chaired by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. Today, Nigerians should ask whether or not political appointees have been allowed to overshadow the medical specialists who ought to lead this response. The NCDC, epidemiologists, medical doctors and public well being professionals have to be in cost, with the authority and assets to act. Political titles can’t hint contacts, equip hospitals or save lives.

“Nigerians are already battling the financial hardship created by Tinubu’s insurance policies. Now the federal government’s failure to put together and reply threatens to deepen public anxiousness and disrupt motion, livelihoods and financial exercise. The individuals should not pay twice for a similar failure: first by way of hardship, then by way of a bungled emergency response. Both attributable to Bola.

“I am also alarmed by confirmed information that the Minister of Health’s press conference tomorrow is intended to discourage Nigerians from attending campaign rallies and, ultimately, from voting. It is ridiculous that the same Minister of Health, whose entire ministry was funded with N35 million disbursement in 2025 appropriation and was not involved in the Ebola prevention programme is now being promoted to make health emergency announcements.”

The Tinubu administration should not weaponise Ebola to frighten the general public, silence its opponents or suppress voter participation. Any public well being measure have to be backed by clear medical proof, utilized equally and by no means used as a pretext to intervene with Nigerians’ democratic rights.

“The ‘Bola-Ebola’ strategy will not fool Nigerians. You cannot fail to protect the people, conceal what happened to emergency funds, then use the crisis to restrict their freedom. Account for the ₦10 billion. Protect every health worker. Trace every contact. Tell Nigerians the truth. Fight Ebola, and keep your hands off their right to assemble and choose their leaders.”