Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, a former military president, stated that a two-party system is optimal for the nation’s democracy.
This was stated by Babangida, also referred to as IBB, on Friday during an interview on Laolu Akande’s Inside Sources on Channels Television.
A two-party system will save the nation a lot of money and troubles connected with a multi-party state, according to the former military commander who governed Nigeria from 1985 to 1993.
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In addition, Babangida claimed that Nigeria may be on the verge of becoming a one-party state but that Nigerians would not let it to occur.
He said: “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 a dictatorship can’t survive in a civil society.
“The Nigerians I know will not allow it; they will talk you out of it. You can say okay, I don’t want and forget about it.
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“Immediately after independence, Nigeria tended to gravitate towards a two-party system. The number of parties formed a coalition to gain power. It happened in the first and second republics. It showed up again in the third republic and the current republic.
“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.”
Babangida equally suggested that in additional to two major political parties, independent candidates could also be allowed to contest for political offices.
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“One can contest as an independent candidate if the person is strong enough to get supporters,” he added.
According to Babangida, the states will be able to be more independent of the federal government by having more resources to manage their own affairs.
He said: “I believe in restructuring and devolution of powers to the states to give them more powers, and that means you are going to give them more resources to run their own affairs so that we run a federal government the way federation is run all over the world.”
Speaking on stopping the large-scale exodus of Nigerians to other nations, the former head of the armed forces urged the government to provide a conducive atmosphere that would allow its people to thrive.
According to him, fostering an environment that is supportive will encourage people to appreciate working for their nation as much as they like working for other nations.
The former military leaders stated this would see Nigerians choose to remain in their country rather than going to look for greener pastures elsewhere.
He said: “I think the environment should be created in such a way that people will be motivated to work for the country. So, I share the view very much that we made names in a lot of countries, such as the US and the UK; Nigerians are doing very well in all professions.
“Why not do the same here in our own country? So we have to create an environment that is suitable for this sort of service that Nigerians have to give to their own country, I think it is possible.”
