Fear and anxiety should have gripped the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, following reports of a suspected Ebola case in the city, but the reverse is the case for many residents who say they are already immune to deadly diseases because the APC administration has failed them at all levels.
Instead of panic, Abuja residents have met the news with humour, sarcasm and political jabs, insisting that they have been living with a bigger and more dangerous “virus” since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took over power in 2023, and that the APC government is not getting it right whether at the federal, state or local level.
The Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC had earlier announced surveillance and precautionary measures after a suspected case of Ebola Virus Disease was reported in Abuja, urging residents to stay calm, maintain personal hygiene and avoid panic.
However, on the streets of Abuja, the mood is different. Residents say the real disease killing Nigerians is not Ebola, but bad governance.
At Wuse Market, traders were seen going about their normal businesses, laughing off the Ebola alert. One trader, Malam Ibrahim Sule, said: “My brother, Ebola no be our problem. Our problem na this APC government wey no dey get am for any level. Federal level, na hardship. State where APC dey, na debt and hunger. Local government, na zero. We don get immunity for Ebola because we dey live with im senior brother, Bola, since 2023. That one dey kill faster than Ebola.”
In Kubwa, a commercial driver, Mr. James Anayo, said: “APC is not getting it at all levels. Look at federal, they promised renewed hope, but na renewed shege. Look at their states, no good road, no good school, no security. Look at economy, fuel from N197 to over N1,000, Dollar from N400 to N1,600, Rice from N35k to N100k. Which level dem dey get am? None! Ebola kills in days, but Bola kills slowly everyday.”
A similar sentiment was echoed in Garki and Lugbe, where residents described the current economic hardship as more lethal than any virus.
Mrs. Aisha Bello, a civil servant, said: “APC administration has failed at all levels. At federal level, no plan, only tax upon tax. At state level where they control, workers are crying, pensioners dying. At local level, nothing is working. Everything is in shambles. Since 2023, na survival we dey do, no be living. We don already build strong immunity.”
A youth leader in AMAC, Comrade Daniel Okah, added: “Security is zero, economy is zero, education is zero, health is zero. APC is not getting it right at all levels. How can you tell people to fear Ebola when government itself is a bigger epidemic? People cannot afford food, cannot afford hospital, cannot afford school. That is the real Ebola.”
On social media, the reaction was even more intense. The news of Ebola in Abuja quickly turned into a trend where Nigerians dragged the APC government.
An X user, @AbujaConvo wrote: “Breaking: Ebola in Abuja. Abuja Residents: Lol, we’ve been living with his senior brother EBOLA (BOLA) since May 29, 2023. And APC is not getting it at federal, state, local – everywhere failure.”
Another user, @NaijaMustBeBetter, posted: “The real Ebola is the one in Aso Rock. He has infected the economy, infected our pocket, infected our food, infected every level of governance. The one in hospital is still learning work. APC has failed at all levels.”
@EmekaTalks said: “They say Ebola don enter Abuja. But Abuja people no fear, because senior brother Bola don already teach us how to live with virus. No light, no fuel, no food, no job, no security – yet we dey breathe. APC score sheet at all levels is F9.”
The humorous reactions, however, mask deep frustration and anger among residents over the rising cost of living, inflation, fuel price hike, insecurity, collapsing health sector and the general hardship attributed to the policies of the APC-led federal government.
Residents insisted that any government that cannot get basic things right at any level has no moral right to ask citizens to be afraid of a virus, when hunger and hardship is already killing faster.
While the sarcasm continues online, health experts have warned residents not to trivialize the Ebola alert, advising regular handwashing, avoiding bushmeat and reporting any symptoms like fever, vomiting and bleeding to the nearest health facility.
As at press time, the NCDC says no confirmed case has been declared, and investigations are ongoing to verify the suspected case.
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