Lumumba, Chambas Endorse Peterside’s Book as a Must-Read for Leaders

Renowned Kenyan public intellectual and human rights lawyer, Professor P.L.O. Lumumba, and Mohamed Ibn Chambas, former President of the ECOWAS Commission and the African Union’s High Representative for Silencing the Guns, have both commended Beneath the Surface: Essays on Nigeria’s Chequered Journey, the new collection of essays by Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

In his endorsement, Lumumba described the book as “a potpourri of well-researched essays” that would “prick the reader’s conscience.” He added:

“In an eclectic yet effective way, the author has dealt masterfully with a multiplicity of socioeconomic and political hurdles that have and continue to stand in Nigeria’s path to greatness. Beneath the Surface is a manual that every conscientious person in authority should read.”

Chambas, the Ghanaian-born diplomat, echoed similar sentiments, hailing the book as “a wide-ranging, thoughtful, thoroughly researched, erudite, and enlightened discussion of contemporary Nigerian, African, and global issues.”

Their praise is not just about Peterside’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s most celebrated syndicated columnists, but about the book’s substance: a bold attempt to speak plainly about complex realities, offer solutions to Nigeria’s socio-political challenges, and equip readers—particularly those in leadership—with the tools to act.

Beneath the Surface examines Nigeria’s very soul, unpacking the intricacies of politics, governance, and the power struggles that shape the nation. From the global arena of geopolitics and migration to the everyday realities of local governance, Peterside provides both an objective critique and a hopeful guide to a better future.

At its heart, the book is about choices. It traces how global currents—commodity cycles, climate change, technological disruption—wash up on Nigerian shores, influencing budgets, priorities, and even national mood. Yet Peterside insists that Nigeria’s destiny remains in its own hands: that progress is possible when leaders respect facts, when citizens organise with patience, and when institutions are nourished by transparency.

For Lumumba and Chambas, Beneath the Surface is not just a book—it is a call to conscience, a roadmap for leadership, and a timely reminder that Nigeria’s best chapters are yet to be written.