Veteran Nigerian journalist, historian and diplomat, Patrick Dele Cole has died in London at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy spanning journalism, diplomacy, academia and public service.
Cole, who died on Saturday, October 17, was known for his commitment to editorial independence, public accountability and personal integrity throughout his decades in public life.
Born on the 4th of August 1940, in Abonnema, in the Kalabari Kingdom of present-day Rivers State, Cole belonged to a generation whose experiences were shaped by the end of colonial rule, Nigeria’s independence and the political changes that followed.
He began his education at St Bartholomew’s School in Enugu, where he studied from 1946 to 1953, before proceeding to Baptist High School in Port Harcourt between 1954 and 1958. He later attended Ibadan Grammar School from 1959 to 1960.
Cole continued his education at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, from 1962 to 1965, before moving to the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, where he studied from 1966 to 1970.
He subsequently became a fellow of King’s College, Cambridge, from 1970 to 1973, earned a doctorate in history and served as a visiting professor at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States before joining Nigeria’s federal civil service.
His academic background informed his subsequent work in journalism, diplomacy and government, where he drew on his knowledge of history, international relations and public administration.
Role in Daily Times and defence of press freedom
Cole became a prominent figure in Nigerian journalism in 1975 when he was appointed a non-executive director of the Daily Times while serving in the Cabinet Office.
His appointment came after the military government acquired a 60 per cent controlling stake in the newspaper through NICON Insurance under General Murtala Mohammed.
The acquisition followed years of tension between the newspaper and the authorities, including its closure in 1969 and the arrest of some of its leading figures.
Despite his connections to government, Cole worked to stabilize the newspaper’s operations, retain experienced staff and protect its editorial independence at a time when state influence over the media was a major concern.
One of his notable contributions was the introduction of an editorial board model-led on the American system, which separated the newspaper’s institutional opinions from the work of its editor and features writers.
The board was chaired by Stanley Macebuh, and the model was subsequently adopted more widely across the Nigerian newspaper industry.
Cole also supported editors who faced pressure over their reporting. He backed Tunji Oseni during a dispute over a report on Nigeria Airways that some officials wanted suppressed.
He also stood with Tony Moho in defending the newspaper and an editor against the Senate, reinforcing his position that journalists should be able to scrutinize those in authority without undue interference.
His support extended beyond the Daily Times. He encouraged the emergence of The Guardian and endorsed an editorial appointment recommended by journalist Begun Osoba.
Although some journalists initially feared that his government connections would make the Daily Times more compliant, many came to regard him as an administrator who understood the importance of an independent press.
Cole maintained that journalists had a responsibility to hold those in power accountable, even when doing so placed them at odds with their employers or the government.
Diplomacy and political career
Cole’s career later extended into diplomacy and high-level government service.
He served as special adviser on international relations to former President Olusegun Obasanjo during his presidency from 1999 to 2007. He subsequently represented Nigeria as ambassador to Brazil and Argentina.
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His diplomatic assignments drew on his academic training and experience in public administration, placing him at the intersection of Nigeria’s foreign relations and domestic political interests.
Cole was also involved in Nigerian politics during the early 1990s. He was associated with the Social Democratic Party and emerged as a presidential candidate during the turbulent period surrounding the 12th of June, 1993, presidential election.
The period was marked by intense political uncertainty following the annulment of the election, which was widely regarded as a defining moment in Nigeria’s struggle for democratic governance.
After his diplomatic assignments, Cole remained engaged in public affairs and continued contributing to national discussions on governance, accountability and the responsibilities of public office.
He also served on The Guardian Editorial Board, maintaining his involvement in journalism and public debate.
Criticism of governance and call for integrity
Even in his later years, Cole remained an outspoken commentator on Nigeria’s political and economic challenges.
He consistently advocated integrity, discipline, responsible leadership and a stronger commitment to public service. He criticised corruption, ethnic divisions and transactional politics, arguing that public office should be guided by the public interest rather than personal gain.
He also questioned government spending, excessive official privileges, unproductive borrowing and the country’s failure to translate its natural and industrial resources into sustainable prosperity.
Cole frequently cited commodities such as cocoa and palm produce, as well as industrial projects such as the Ajaokuta Steel Complex and the country’s refineries, when discussing Nigeria’s inability to maximise its economic potential.
He argued that the country needed to manage public resources more prudently and ensure that government spending delivered tangible benefits to citizens.
For Cole, austerity was not inherently undesirable; wasteful spending was the greater problem.
He maintained that governments should manage public finances with the same care that a prudent household would apply to its resources.
His views on public service were closely connected to his defence of press freedom. He believed that journalists and public officials should be willing to challenge wrongdoing, even when doing so carried personal or professional consequences.
He described the willingness to reject an employer’s demands when they conflicted with the public interest as a virtue rather than an offence.
His position reflected a longstanding belief that personal integrity should not be sacrificed for professional advancement or political convenience.
Family and personal life
Cole’s family remained an important part of his life.
His wife, Mina Dugoabere Cole, a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, died in London on October 1, 2021.
In discussing the meaning of a successful life, Cole emphasised contentment, family and the achievements of his children rather than material wealth or public recognition.
His son, Tonye Patrick Cole, born on January 11, 1967, is a prominent businessman and co-founder and former group executive director of Sahara Group.
Cole’s reflections on family and contentment complemented his wider views on leadership, personal responsibility and the values needed to build a more accountable society.
A legacy across generations
Cole’s death marks the end of a career that spanned some of the most consequential periods in Nigeria’s political and institutional development, from the years following independence through military rule and the return to democratic government.
His contributions to the Daily Times remain a significant part of his legacy, particularly his efforts to protect editorial independence while serving in a newspaper operating under government control.
His career also brought together scholarship, diplomacy, journalism and public administration, allowing him to participate in national affairs from several perspectives.
His record in journalism and public service leaves a legacy centered on the relationship between power and responsibility, and on the principle that public institutions must serve the interests of citizens.
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