Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), former head of state, says he is not the evil genius that many people consider him to be.

Babangida, who said this while speaking with journalists at his residence in Minna, Niger state, on Tuesday, also said he would make the national assembly optional if he had the chance to, because of a need to cut down the cost of governance.

“During my public life, there were several decisions we took  as military officers or as  political officers — when I was a dictator — that if given another chance, I would do differently. For example, in 1989, we proposed that the national assembly should be optional, that is part-time,” he said.

“I still believe that if I had the opportunity, I would make the national assembly part-time. I believe in that very strongly and is part of efforts to cut down the cost of governance in Nigeria.”

The former head of state also said that he is not an evil genius as some consider him, saying: “I am not the evil genius that quite a lot of people consider me that I am.

“I have had a very excellent background and training.We have to love one another. However, I can understand the feeling people have towards me.

“By the virtue of the job I was doing, I was bound to be misconstrued and my actions misinterpreted as evil. I consider what people say as an opinion as long as I am not what you think I was; I feel satisfied?.”

The national assembly has come under intense criticism lately, with Olusegun Obasanjo, former president, accusing the nation’s legislature, on different occasions, of massive corruption.

Widely referred to as IBB or the “evil genius”, Babangida is most remembered for annulling the June 12, 1993 presidential election — popularly adjudged, till date, as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election ever.

TheCable