London/Abuja — Veteran Nigerian journalist, diplomat, historian and elder statesman, Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole, has died at the age of 86.
Family sources confirmed that Cole passed away on Saturday morning, 17 October 2026, in London following weeks of deteriorating health. He had recently been discharged from intensive care but his condition continued to decline.
Born on 4 August 1940 in Abonnema, in the Kalabari Kingdom of present-day Rivers State, Cole was a towering figure in Nigerian public life whose career spanned journalism, diplomacy, academia and politics.
He rose to prominence as Managing Director of the Daily Times from 1976 to 1979, a period during which he helped restore the newspaper’s influence and recruited notable journalists including Dele Giwa and Stanley Macebuh. He later served on the editorial board of The Guardian.
Cole also distinguished himself in the diplomatic service, serving as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Argentina and Brazil. He represented the country at the United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity, and later worked as Special Adviser on International Relations to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In the early 1990s, he was a presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party. He was also a historian who earned a doctorate from the University of Cambridge and remained an influential voice on national issues throughout his life.
President Bola Tinubu, in a statement issued on Saturday, described Cole as “a distinguished diplomat, journalist, politician and public servant” who devoted his life to national service.
“As Managing Director of the Daily Times, he upheld the vital role of the press in holding public officials accountable, speaking truth to power, and strengthening democratic governance. His legacy in journalism and public life remains an enduring part of our national story,” the President said.
Tinubu extended his condolences to the family, friends and associates of the late elder statesman, praying that God grant him eternal rest.
Cole, who celebrated his 86th birthday in August 2026, is survived by his children, including businessman Tonye Cole, and other family members. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in due course.
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