Jonathan Did Well — I Was Naive to Criticise Him, Says Bello el-Rufai
Bello el-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, has admitted that he was wrong in his earlier criticisms of former President Goodluck Jonathan, describing his past stance as a product of youthful naivety.
Speaking on a Democracy Day programme on Channels Television on Thursday, el-Rufai reflected on his change in perspective about Nigeria’s former leader, who governed from 2010 to 2015.
“I even forgot in my naivety, as many young people do, that we had governance then,” said el-Rufai, who represents Kaduna North federal constituency.
The lawmaker, son of former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai, revealed that he asked his father to apologise to Jonathan on his behalf.
“I found my father saying that he will consult President Jonathan. I said: ‘Please, when you see him, tell him I am very sorry, I am wiser now’,” he said.
El-Rufai praised Jonathan’s decision to hand over power peacefully in 2015, calling it a rare act on the African continent.
“The system is a problem. Now, why did I mention President Jonathan? It takes a lot, particularly in Africa, to lose an election and leave. He (Jonathan) did that.”
Commenting on ongoing electoral reforms, he stated his opposition to any constitutional amendment that would allow voting without a voter card.
His comments come amid speculation that his father, Nasir el-Rufai, is working to build a coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election, following tensions after the failure of his ministerial nomination.
