“I Was Wrong About Jonathan – Bello El-Rufai Makes Shocking U-Turn, Sends Apology Through His Father

Bello El-Rufai, who represents Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has admitted he regrets his earlier criticism of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, Bello—son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai—acknowledged that his remarks at the time stemmed from youthful naivety.

He explained that in his earlier years, he failed to recognize the efforts made under Jonathan’s leadership and only came to appreciate them later. This realization, he noted, dawned on him when his father mentioned visiting Jonathan for political consultations.

Recounting the moment, Bello said, “I visited my father after becoming a legislator and saw him dressed casually. When I asked where he was going, he told me he was meeting President Jonathan. I froze for a moment. In my younger, more naive days, I was very critical of Jonathan. I had forgotten that, despite everything, there was indeed governance under his leadership. I told my father, ‘Please tell him I’m sorry—I’m wiser now.’”

He went on to commend Jonathan for peacefully conceding defeat in 2015, a move he described as rare in African politics.

Bello also emphasized the need for strong electoral reforms. He expressed support for the electronic transmission of election results but voiced opposition to any amendment that would allow citizens to vote without a voter’s card, should such a proposal be considered.