Bello El-Rufai Says He Was Wrong to Criticize Jonathan and Asked His Dad to Say Sorry for Him
Bello El-Rufai, a current member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives and son of ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has acknowledged that he was immature in his previous criticisms of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
During a special interview on Channels Television last Thursday, Bello shared how his views shifted after witnessing his father arrange a meeting with Jonathan for political discussions.
He recalled telling his father, “When you meet with President Jonathan, please let him know I’m sorry for my earlier remarks—I’ve gained a better understanding now.”
Bello admitted that his earlier harsh judgments stemmed from a lack of insight into the complexities of leadership. He credited experience and maturity for changing his perspective on governance and political challenges.
Elected to represent Kaduna North Federal Constituency in 2023, Bello recounted a particular moment: “After I took office, I saw my father dressed casually and asked where he was headed. He said to see President Jonathan. It caught me off guard because I used to be quite vocal in my criticisms back then, driven by youthful pride and ignorance.”
He continued, “I realized that despite my former stance, my father sought Jonathan’s counsel. I asked him to convey my apologies and explain that I now have a more thoughtful outlook.”
Bello also reflected on the significance of Jonathan’s graceful concession after losing an election—a rare act in African politics.
On electoral reforms, the APC lawmaker expressed cautious optimism but warned against proposals that might allow voting without voter cards, promising to resist such changes. He also voiced strong support for improving election transparency through electronic Result transmission.
