Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, on Tuesday said he regretted his inability to scrap the National Assembly or make its membership optional.

Babandida, who spoke to journalists at his Uphill residence in Minna, Niger State, as part of activities marking his 75th birthday, said he would make amends if given another chance to act on the matter.

The ex- President said making the National Assembly membership optional would reduce the cost of governance.

He said, “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.

“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 parts of efforts to cut down the cost of governance in Nigeria.”

Babangida said several people in Nigeria still judge him based on decisions he took in the past.

He insisted that people have “misjudged and misinterpreted” his actions over the years.

“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 ex- President added.