Eminent Nigerians, including Nigeria’s former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; elder statesman, Gen Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd), Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, among others have praised the two new books, “Leading in a Storm” and “Beneath the Surface,” written by turnaround expert, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, describing them as collectors’ items for those in leadership positions.
In his remarks, Former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, described the author as a participant-observer.
“He is not a distant critic; he is an engaged reformer,” the former Vice President said, adding that “each piece marries rigorous analysis with workable solutions.”
Drawing on Dakuku’s writing on the judiciary, he commended the courage to address delicate issues without sensationalism and the discipline to propose reforms that are both principled and practicable.
“In his framing, the books are not just essays and chapters; they are operating manuals for leaders who must make sense before making moves,” he said.
The Chairman of the books unveiling, Major General Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd), recalled Peterside’s steady public record, from the House of Representatives to a consequential tenure at NIMASA to a nationally syndicated column, while praising his consistent “through-line: advocacy for equity, fairness, justice, free expression, and the elevation of the Nigerian through education, industrialisation, and technology.”
He says, “If party loyalties are fluid and ideology is thin, isn’t it time to rethink and rebrand our democracy around principle and performance?
He renewed his long-standing call for a People’s Federal Constitution negotiated by Nigeria’s diverse nationalities. This would unlock the viability of every federating unit, reward productivity, and ensure a fair federal contribution.
“These books do not merely diagnose,” he stated. They insist on bold, values-anchored, accountable leadership and on building institutions that outlast politics.”
Niger State’s Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, in a goodwill message that crackled with momentum, argued that Leading in a Storm maps neatly onto Niger’s recent trajectory:
In his words, “when it comes to leading in a storm, we have a live case—securing communities, rebuilding infrastructure, and positioning Niger as Nigeria’s food capital. It is not enough to criticise the government; citizens and leaders must get involved. Dakuku doesn’t just critique; he provides solutions, and we apply them.”
Also speaking, Engr Jackson Offor, the Chief Presenter for Beneath the Surface, captured its moral ambition with striking clarity, saying, “This is not a political diary; it is a mirror held to the nation’s soul.”
He traversed the seventy essays—from “Hunger is Real and Present” to “Beyond Reactive Governance” and “Kevin McCarthy and the Travails of Democracy”—and argued that Nigeria’s recurring dysfunctions are symptoms of an invisible deficit: truth, trust, and accountability.
The Chief Presenter for Leading in a Storm, Mr Adokiye Ikpoki, translated its architecture into a crisp playbook for execution in volatile times: “anticipate rather than react; make sense before you make moves; widen the circle of intelligence; communicate truth early; protect essential services; codify learning after every shock; and invest in people practices that reward results over proximity.”
He wished the book had been written before COVID-19 hit Nigeria, but he believed Nigerians showed resilience and excellent leadership skills during the crisis.
Goodwill messages came from renowned investment banker Atedo Peterside, who spoke to market-enabling policy and institutional credibility; former NDDC MD Timi Alaibe, who pressed on the discipline of reform and the patience to see it through; and George Etomi, who spoke to the rule of law as a development instrument.
Former NFF President Amaju Pinnick pinned on sports as an industry and youth pathway, just as Jean Chiazor, SAN, offered insights into maritime safety and blue-economy potential. Mrs Wunmi Eniola—Jegede, in praising the author, said applying crisis leadership principles in the logistics business is critical to success and celebrated publisher Dele Momodu on culture as a soft-power asset and nation-branding lever.
Representing the DG of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, the EDFA, Chudi Offodile, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to leadership standards that keep people safe, grow maritime trade, and build credible institutions.
The author of the two books, Dr Peterside, dedicated the occasion to Nigeria’s doers: public servants who still believe, entrepreneurs who refuse to quit, educators who shape the next generation, and reformers who choose courage over cynicism.
He says, “Beneath the Surface asks us to think harder, while Leading in a Storm shows us how to act better. Together, they invite us to rebuild—one policy, institution, and community at a time.”
He thanked the presenters and dignitaries for “converting a launch into a laboratory, and Lagos for reminding the nation that scale and speed can co-exist with empathy and standards.”
