Mixed reactions and speculations are currently trailing Peter Obi’s Monday visit to Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel.
According to many commenters, the forthcoming 2023 presidential elections will be a close contest between the three major presidential candidates as politicians continue to rob shoulders despite their political differences.
However, the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Obi revealed that his discussion with the Akwa Ibom State governor was on issues bordering on national interest, nation building and particularly on the economy and fiscal matters. 
On Twitter, Peter Obi wrote: “Yesterday, I met with my friend and brother H.E @MrUdomEmmanuel, the Governor of Akwa Ibom state. We exchanged views on issues on national interest, national building and particularly on the economy and fiscal matters.”
See Reactions
Reacting to the tweet, @DrPenking wrote: “We exchanged views on issues on national interest, national building and particularly on the economy and fiscal matters.”
@Indigid Solomon: “This is how politics should be. Because someone is in another party shouldn’t make you hate or fight that person.In Nigeria, 90% of the politicians and citizens practice politics of bitterness and wickedness. Disrupting rallies and taking down of campaign posters of opponents.”
@FridayJab: “2023 go hot oo.. Nobody knows who is standing for who. Secrets must not be revealed.”
Meawhile, in a related story, Mr Obi’s long awaited manifesto came to the fore in the early hours of Monday morning, and has since garnered reactions online.
One of the notable points from the manifesto is the part where Mr Obi plans to formulate a policy on Common Regimentation Emolument Structure Table (CREST) to harmonize the wages of the federal public servants, so that public servants (whether elected or appointed) are not ranked or earn higher than career civil servants and the military such as those in judiciary, academia, para-military, and federal statutory agencies.
The manifesto stressed that those in these cadres should earn the same salary, and the same prescribed perks and perquisites which will aid in cutting the cost of governance while promoting amity.
Reacting, @Novieerest wrote: “You see that CREST. It is very important. Political aides earn higher wages than our military and civil servants, even our professors. It has to stop.
The new Labour law. Long overdue. Nigerians read the ObiDatti manifesto yourself and see how. Addresses your basic needs. Empathy makes a leader know the areas of need of their people.”
Peter Obi’s 7 Governance Priorities
Mr Obi’s 7 governance priorities as detailed in his manifesto include:
“Securing Nigeria, ending banditry and insurgency; and uniting our dear nation, to manage our diversity such that no one is left behind.
“Production-centred growth for food security and export-Moving Nigeria from consumption to production.
“Restructuring the polity through effective legal and institutional reforms to fight corruption and enthrone rule of law and all inclusive and effective government.
“Leapfrogging Nigeria from an oll-dependent economy to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (418) with massive investment in new technologies.
“Expanding physical infrastructure-with focus on critical sectors I.e power, multi-modal transportation, gas pipeline, etc.-through efficient public-private partnership (PPP) reforms (unleashing growth-enabling entrepreneurship and market-creating innovations).
“Youth engagement and human capital development that improves quality of life of workers and families, and productivity-enhancing education that empowers labour competitiveness.
“Robust foreign policy that restores Nigeria’s strategic relevance.”
The manifesto reads in part: “As your President, I Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi, my Vice President, Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmed and our team pledge to:
“Secure and unite our dearnation to manage our diversity such that no one is left behind in Nigeria
“Move Nigeria from consumption to production.
“Embark on comprehensive legal and institutional reforms and practicable restructuring measures to fight corruption, enthrone rule of law, and an all-inclusive and effective govemment.
“Prioritize Human Capital Development through robust investments in STEM education, health, and infrastructural development, with emphasis on wealth creation, distribution and sustainable development.
“Engineer the transition of Nigeria from fossil fuel dependency to climate and eco-friendly energy
“Pursue holistic poverty eradication with emphasis on agricultural revolution through effective utilization of our vast arable lands particularly in Northem Nigeria, and erase Nigeria’s categorization as the poverty capital of the world.
“Improve access to finance particularly to MSMEL youths and women to significantly reduce unemployment and insecurity
“Ensure that in policy and practice, governance will be made more inclusive, cost-effective. transformative, and less transactional (No more sharing of the national wealth by a few).
“Ensure that our diversity will be leveraged to give women and youths, the aged and persons with disabilities, unfettered voice in governance, and a renewed sense of patriotism and faith in Nigeria
“Ensure that Nigeria is progressively better governed through legislative, executive, and judicial reforms, so that the Constitutional separation of powers among the three arms of govemment is properly followed and the three tiers of government allowed to function independently and jointly for a more inclusive
and sustainable Nigeria.”