Nigerians won’t allow one-party state, says Babangida

…’I tried everything to be friends with Fawehinmi’

Former Nigerian military president, Gen.Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd), has said Nigerians will not allow a one-party state, saying that dictatorship can not survive in a civil society.

Babangida stated that the existence of a two party system would not only streamline governance but also reduce financial burdens on the political system.

He made these remarks during an interview on Channel TV’s Inside Sources with Laolu Akande.

WesternPost reports that Babangida governed Nigeria from 1985 to 1993 after a successful palace coup against the regime of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

During his regime, Babangida set up a two party system which gave birth to Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC).

In the interview, Babangida advocated for a system with just two dominant parties, alongside the possibility for independent candidates.

“Someone strong enough to gather support can contest independently,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Nigeria runs a multi-party system with 19 registered political parties, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

IBB also opened up about his unsuccessful efforts to win the friendship of the late human rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN). He said Fawehinmi shunned him because he was seen as an “evil genius” by the public.

Babangida praised Fawehinmi as a good man and a good critic, and said he admired his intelligence and courage. He also said that one of his ministers, the late Alex Akinyele, who was close to Fawehinmi, tried to bridge the gap between them but failed.

He said: “He (Fawehinmi) is a good critic and he 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?”

He added that he always encouraged his cabinet members to join his government for the sake of Nigeria and not for personal gain.