“We are now at a war! We have a big political battle before us which we must win. As a test run of this war, we are now marching to Anambra State for the kill.”

That was the political battle cry on Thursday by  Action Congress (AC) National Chairman, Bisi Akande,  who urged his the party faithful to prepare for war in order to win the 2011 election. 

He noted at the AC National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja that the strength of the party in the political war will be tested on in the Anambra Governorship ballot on February 6, 2010.

He faulted President Olusegun Obasanjo for declaring the 2007 election a “do or die affair,” and also knocked Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, for boasting that the PDP would capture Lagos and Kano in 2011.

Akande implored AC members to unite and do away with fifth columnists masquerading as loyalists, who are being monitored to determine those who “have fallen prey of the wave of the (PDP) political chicanery.”

He asked his colleagues: “Can we have any more time for quarrelling among ourselves? Am I being assured that we remain strong and united within the AC? Are there more places left for any PDP moles among us?

“In spite of the vicissitudes, the AC is waxing strongest in Lagos State, gaining much stronger strength in Edo State, creating most destabilising tremor for the PDP in Osun and Ekiti States, and putting pepper in their faces in Plateau, Bauchi, and Adamawa States.

“The AC has tactically been pulling the rug under the feet of anti-peoples’ authorities in Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi and Jigawa States and, definitely, shall soon begin to filibuster the PDP hegemony in the rest states where it holds rein.”

Akande noted that opposition parties are very difficult to manage in Nigeria because of corruption and lawless leadership, whereas democracy can only be practised in a disciplined society.  

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had on Wednesday also disclosed plans for the 2011 election from another flank, after lamenting that much of the past 10 years of democracy was wasted. 

He said himself, former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, and former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, all have agreed to set aside their individual Presidential ambitions to save Nigeria from inept leadership and total collapse. 

“We said let us unite first and rescue this country. If we rescue the nation anyone of us God has given the mandate we will all support, and stay together and work for the people.” 

His premise is that the three of them have leadership pedigree to lead Nigeria. 

“We were the ones who put our heads together  and ensured that there was no third term. So, anything you are looking for politically, the three of us have it. 

“Bafarawa was Governor for eight years, Buhari was Head of State, and myself Vice President. Therefore, anything that is needed to solve the problem of this country, we have it.” 

Atiku said the three of them have agreed to have only one ideology. 

“First, we accept democracy; secondly, we agree that nothing will help the people of this country except they bring back truth, and work for the people to become self-reliant in social amenities, such as security, education, and health.” 

Former Lagos Governor, Bola Tinubu, said he too would buy into any agenda conceived to ensure free and fair election, including membership of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) formed by top opposition figures, among them Buhari, Atiku, and Olu Falae.

Tinubu reiterated his call for a holistic reform of the electoral system, urging President Umaru Yar’Adua to deliver on his inauguration promise to provide Nigeria one-man, one vote.