Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB, has justified the need for the restructuring on Nigeria.

Babangida spoke in an interview with Channels Television on Friday.

He said, “In 1989, we set up a committee on the devolution of power. The late Abdurrahman Okene looked at it because we were thinking at the time about how to get the federation structured, even though it was a military regime.

“I believe in restructuring if it means devolution of powers to the state to give them more resources to run their affairs, so we practice federalism as it is done across the world.

“I believe that Nigerians are becoming more interested in becoming a democratic country, at least in Africa.”

Meanwhile, Babangida said the time has come for Nigeria give more powers to the states.

He said, “I believe in restructuring, devolution of powers to the states to give the 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.

Babangida also dismissed fears that Nigeria may be heading to a one party state, saying that Nigerians will not allow that to happen.

“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 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,” the former military leader said.

He advocated for a two-party state as that would save Nigeria a lot of funds and problems associated with a multi-party state.

Babangida equally suggested that in additional to two major political parties, independent candidates could also be allowed to contest for political offices.

“One can contest as an independent candidate if the person is strong enough to get supporters,” he said.

Recall that Nigeria witnessed a lot of military incursions in its politics after independence, with men in uniform ruling the country more years than civilians until 1999.

Babangida was one of the military men that led the country during that period, ruling for eight years from 1985 to 1993.