Goodluck Jonathan and Bello El-Rufai
Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives and son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has admitted that he was naive in his criticism of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
Speaking about his change of perspective, El-Rufai said, “I used to be very active in criticising President Jonathan… I even forgot in my naivety as many young people do, that we had governance then.”
El-Rufai attributed his newfound understanding to seeing his father prepare to visit Jonathan for political consultations.
“I visited my father after I became a member and I saw him wearing a polo shirt and I said ‘where are you going?’ And he said he was going to see President Jonathan, and I paused… I said, ‘please when you see him, tell him I am very sorry, I am wiser now’,” he added.
The APC lawmaker expressed support for electoral reforms, including electronic transmission of election results.
“It takes a lot particularly in Africa to lose an election and leave, he did that,” El-Rufai said, praising Jonathan’s decision to accept electoral defeat.
El-Rufai stated that he would vote against any proposal to allow voting without a voter’s card, citing concerns about potential electoral malpractices.
“If there is any truth to the rumour of an electoral amendment that would allow people to vote without a voter’s card, I would vote against such a proposal,” he said.
