By Eshioromeh Sebastian
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has alleged a plot to use the Ebola outbreak to discourage Nigerians from attending campaign rallies and, ultimately, from voting, warning that the Tinubu administration must not weaponise the disease to frighten the public or silence its opponents.
Atiku, in a statement signed by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, said he was alarmed by confirmed information that the Minister of Health’s press conference scheduled for tomorrow is intended to discourage Nigerians from attending campaign rallies and from voting.
“It is ridiculous that the same Minister of Health, whose entire ministry was funded with ₦35 million disbursement in 2025 appropriation and was not involved in the Ebola prevention programme, is now being promoted to make health emergency announcements,” he said.
The former Vice President insisted that any public health measure must be backed by clear medical evidence, applied equally and never used as a pretext to interfere with Nigerians’ democratic rights.
“The Tinubu administration must not weaponise Ebola to frighten the public, silence its opponents or suppress voter participation,” Atiku said.
“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.”
He, however, noted that Ebola remains a grave public health threat, saying Nigerians deserve urgent action, competent leadership and the truth, and that the first confirmed case in Abuja had exposed unanswered questions about preparedness, surveillance and the protection of health workers.
“Tinubu must account for the ₦10 billion he said would be released immediately in June. Publish the amount actually disbursed, the dates of payment, every contract awarded, every recipient and every item delivered. If the money was not released, Tinubu must explain why he announced emergency funding that never reached the people responsible for protecting Nigerians. A press statement cannot replace an audit,” he said.
Atiku described the timeline of the case as damning, noting that the patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought care at a private hospital on October 11, but the government did not confirm the case publicly until October 20 — nine days after she sought care.
“During that critical period, 44 close contacts were left unmonitored, while private health workers faced the case without adequate protective equipment. This is a failure of preparedness with potentially grave consequences,” he said.
He demanded full disclosure at every stage, asking what travel history and exposure screening were conducted, what follow-up began when the patient developed symptoms, when the 44 contacts were first reached and monitored, and why frontline staff were left without the protection they needed.
Atiku also questioned the role of the Presidential Task Force announced in June and chaired by the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, asking whether political appointees had been allowed to overshadow the medical experts who should lead the response.
“The NCDC, epidemiologists, doctors and public health professionals must be in charge, with the authority and resources to act. Political titles cannot trace contacts, equip hospitals or save lives,” he said.
He warned that the government’s failure to prepare and respond threatens to deepen public anxiety and disrupt movement, livelihoods and economic activity, adding that Nigerians must not pay twice for the same failure — first through hardship, then through a bungled emergency response.
“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,” Atiku said.
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