Former Nigeria Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida rarely grants interviews but when it does it’s expected to be explosive. In this chat with Laolu Akande’s Inside Sources, the man dubbed the “evil genius” reflects on democracy, restructuring, his relationship with Gani Fawehinmi and more. Here are six takeaways from the mind-blowing interview
The military will not happen again, Nigerians are more interested in democracy
“I think that is one of the effects of the aberration of the military regime, it tampered with the democratic process. Such things happened but I believe it wouldn’t happen again because the Nigerians are becoming more interested in becoming a truly democratic nation, at least, in Africa. I don’t think such a thing will happen,” he said.
Nigeria’s economy boom happened under the military
“We freed the economy, we allowed the private sector to be the hub of the economic development of the country. I think the military like we earlier talked about, consulted same Nigerians on the economy and most of them if you recall in the 70s, a lot of reforms that were done handed over certain enterprises back to the people. So it started with the military really and when we came, we did the Structural Adjustment Programme, (SAP) where we got the civil society involved in the economic management team and the government no longer interested in running an agricultural farm and something like that and allowed people to do it themselves.
There is no restructuring without the devolution of powers
“In 1989 we set up a committee on devolution of powers and under late Alhaji Abdul Rahman Okene, he looked at that. This is because we were thinking at that time how we would get the federation structured even though as a military regime then but we are thinking about it. I believe in restructuring if it means devolution of powers to the states. To give them more powers. That means we give them more resources to run their affairs. So that we run a federal government the way federation is run all around the world.
His relationship with legal luminary Gani Fawehinmi
“He (Fawehinmi) is a good critic and doesn’t want to be seen with someone that people already perceived as ‘an evil genius’. I like listening to him. I made it a point to become his friend. He was very friendly with one of my former ministers, the late Alex Akinyele; they were very good friends, and he tried to make us very good friends. “If we come up with a policy, my first question to my staff was: What would Gani Fawehinmi say?”
Nigerians won’t allow a one-party state
“I have been in a military regime, and the Nigerians I know won’t allow a one-party state. I have been a military man. And I know dictatorship is not good and can’t be good in a civil society. Nigerians who I know won’t allow a one-party system and will talk you out of it until you get tired. At the time, we believed Nigerians were capable of a two-party system because it saves you a lot of ‘wahala’ and no rancour. You can choose from A or B.”
State Police would help combat insecurity
At one time, Nigerians didn’t want to hear anything about State Police but now people are looking for it, they want it. Even at State level, they are clamouring for State Police to combat some of these problems. If it comes out, if Nigerians accept it, I think it would work because in fighting these operations, the knowledge of local environment is very paramount. The police within the State would be able to fight the banditry within the State because they know the people, the environment and the people know them. They know those who are involved so getting them to work together for a common cause would not be a problem, that is the whole purpose of it.