Bello el-Rufai, a member of the house of representatives, says he was naive for criticising Goodluck Jonathan during the latter’s stint as president.
The lawmaker, who represents Kaduna north federal constituency, spoke on Thursday during a Democracy Day programme on Channels Television.
Jonathan was Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015.
El-Rufai said he was naive for constantly railing against the administration at the time.
“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.”
Acknowledging progress in the nation’s electoral reforms, the lawmaker said he would oppose any proposed amendment to allow people to vote without a voter card.
The senior el-Rufai is among politicians working to form a coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
El-Rufai became an ardent Tinubu critic after his ministerial nomination bid fell through. (The Cable)
