Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, has publicly apologized to former President Goodluck Jonathan, admitting that he was naive to have criticized his administration in the past.
Bello, the son of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, made the apology during an appearance on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television, aired Thursday evening.
Reflecting on his past views, Bello said he had failed to appreciate the quality of governance during Jonathan’s time in office due to his youthful inexperience and a desire for validation.
“I used to be very critical of President Jonathan. Like many young people, I was naive and driven by ego,” he said.
“One day, I visited my father and saw him preparing to go out. I asked where he was going, and he said, ‘to consult with President Jonathan.’ That moment struck me.”
Bello said he immediately asked his father to deliver a message to the former president:
“Please, when you see him, tell him I am very sorry. I am wiser now.”
The lawmaker praised Jonathan’s statesmanship, particularly for peacefully handing over power after losing the 2015 presidential election—an act Bello described as rare in African politics.
“It takes a lot, especially in Africa, to lose an election and peacefully walk away. He did that,” Bello added.
Bello’s father, Nasir El-Rufai, initially had a cordial relationship with Jonathan and even encouraged him to run in the 2011 election. However, following Namadi Sambo’s appointment as Vice President, tensions grew, and the El-Rufai family became vocal critics of Jonathan’s government.
Now, years later, Bello El-Rufai says he sees things differently and acknowledges the complexity of governance, especially in a country like Nigeria.
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