Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, has expressed regret over his past criticism of former President Goodluck Jonathan, admitting he was “naive” at the time.
The lawmaker, who represents Kaduna North Federal Constituency, made the remark on Thursday during a Democracy Day programme aired on Channels Television.
Jonathan served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015.
El-Rufai said he now realises he lacked understanding when he was regularly critical of the Jonathan administration.
“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.”
El-Rufai also acknowledged progress in Nigeria’s electoral reforms and said he would oppose any amendment to the law that would permit voting without a voter card.
The elder El-Rufai is reportedly among the political figures working to form a coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Bello El-Rufai, once a staunch supporter of Tinubu, became openly critical of the president after his ministerial nomination was unsuccessful.
