Bello el-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, has admitted that he was naive in his past criticism of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Speaking on Thursday during a Democracy Day programme on Channels Television, the lawmaker representing Kaduna North federal constituency reflected on his previous stance, saying he lacked the understanding he has now.
Jonathan served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015. El-Rufai acknowledged that his frequent attacks on the administration during that period were misguided.
“I even forgot in my naivety, as many young people do, that we had governance then,” the son of Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, said.
“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’.
“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.”
Recognizing the strides made in Nigeria’s electoral reforms, the lawmaker stated that he would resist any attempt to amend the law to permit voting without a voter card.
Meanwhile, the elder el-Rufai is part of a group of politicians working to build a coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
His sharp criticism of Tinubu intensified after his ministerial nomination was unsuccessful.
