When an old man dies, the saying goes, a library burns. When Patrick Dele Cole died, a national archive burnt. Dr. Patrick Dele Cole passed on in London on October 17, 2026, at 86. PANDEF has declared seven days of mourning. President Bola Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, PANDEF leader Ambassador Godknows Igali, and a legion of journalists, diplomats and politicians have paid tribute. But no tribute can capture the library that has burnt. For many young Nigerians, Dele Cole was just “Tonye Cole’s father” or “that old ambassador on TV.” For those who know, he was the man who professionalised Nigerian journalism, deepened Nigerian diplomacy before and after Abacha. He taught us that intellect can serve power without being enslaved by it.

‘The Cambridge scholar who returned home’
Born August 4, 1940, in Abonnema, Kalabari Kingdom, Rivers State, Patrick Dele Cole’s path could have ended in Cambridge quadrangles. First Class Honours, University of Otago, New Zealand. PhD, Cambridge University. Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge. Visiting Professor, University of Pennsylvania (1969-1973), teaching history and political science to American students at the height of civil rights. He was an avid reader to make himself abreast of contemporary global systems – colleagues recall him reading three newspapers before 7am, journals on international relations, economics, history, and literature into midnight. You could not discuss world affairs with Dele Cole without him quoting latest Foreign Affairs, latest African Affairs, latest development in China, latest debate at the UN. He read to lead.

Yet this man who could have stayed in Ivy League returned to Lagos in 1973 to serve as Administrative Officer, Political Department, Cabinet Office, under General Yakubu Gowon. Reason: he believed Nigeria was worth serving.

‘The “Daily Times” Years: He restored a newspaper’s soul’
In 1976, Murtala Muhammed/Obasanjo military government took over “Daily Times” and needed a man who could manage it without turning it into government megaphone. They chose Dele Cole, 36. What he did in three years (1976-1979) became textbook: He restored independence. At a time when government owned “Daily Times”, he insisted on independent editorial board system modelled on American system – where editorial opinion is separate from news, and editorial board can criticise government that owns the newspaper. He protected editors from soldiers. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recalled this week: “He introduced an independent editorial board system to protect the newspaper’s editorial policies from political interference.” That system was later copied by every serious newspaper in Nigeria. He was a talent scout. He was in New York, and persuaded Dele Giwa, who was a copy boy for “The New York Times”, to return home. He navigated the US academia to bring back Stanley Macebuh, a brilliant literary stylist and world-class orator. Giwa and Macebuh came, joined “Daily Times”, and changed Nigerian journalism. Without Dele Cole, there would have been no “Newswatch”and the 1980s golden era. He introduced intellectual depth. Under him, “Daily Times” circulation rose to over 600,000 – making it Africa’s largest at that time.

“The Guardian” Years: He was with Alex Ibru to build a dream
When Dr. Alex Ibru, businessman and industrialist, wanted to establish “The Guardian” in 1983 – as independent, intellectual, uncompromising newspaper – who did he call after Aremo Olusegun Osoba? Patrick Dele Cole who gave him Dr. Macebuh, first as Executive Editor and then as first Managing Director. The quiet architect behind “The Guardian”‘s birth was Aremo Osoba facilitated the headhunt of Mr. Lade Bonuola.

So if you read “The Guardian” today and admire its independence, its editorial board system, its intellectual seriousness – you are reading Dele Cole’s architecture. He rebuilt the “Daily Times” where the bulk of the pioneer editors, Macebuh, Bonuola and Femi Kusa who set off the foundation of “The Guardian”. “Daily Times” attracted intellectuals into journalism and he helped birth “The Guardian”. For “Daily Times”/“The Guardian” old associates, therefore, his death is not just news – it is loss of a founding father.

PDC As Diplomat: After management in journalism, diplomacy called
Nigerian Ambassador to Brazil (1987-1990) and Argentina, member, Presidential Panel on History of Nigeria Since Independence (1977); Nigeria-China Forum (1979); Represented Nigeria at UN and OAU (1976, 1989, 1990).

But his finest diplomatic hour came from 1999-2007 as Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on International Relations. Nigeria in 1999 was still a pariah state after Abacha. Sanctioned. Isolated. Obasanjo needed men who understood global systems. He chose Dele Cole because, as Obasanjo wrote in his tribute this week: “Dele brought exceptional tact, outstanding economic knowledge and unwavering patriotism… Nigeria needed experienced diplomatic hands to help restore its international standing after years of isolation.” Dele Cole travelled with Obasanjo to every capital – Washington, London, Paris, Berlin, Beijing – rebuilding relationships. He was behind the scenes of Paris Club debt relief – the $18 billion write-off that remains Nigeria’s biggest diplomatic victory since independence. Obasanjo credited him for contributing to the strategies that culminated in that relief. He did it all without noise, without seeking credit.

The PANDEF Leader: Niger Delta Conscience
Even while serving in Obasanjo government, he never abandoned Niger Delta. He was a firm advocate for true federalism and resource control. PANDEF National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, said his commitment to aspirations of Niger Delta people remained firm. As leader of PANDEF in later years, he brought intellectual depth to Niger Delta struggle – arguing not just with emotion but with history, economics, and law.

A Library on Fire
Why does his death smack of a burnt-down library? Because Dele Cole was a mobile library. He was author of “Modern Traditional Elites in the Politics of Lagos” – a classic still taught in universities. He wrote speeches that were essays. He wrote memoirs that were history. He remembered dates, names, events from 1960s to 2020s. He was that rare Nigerian who could discuss Kalabari history, Lagos politics, Cambridge economics, American foreign policy, and Brazilian culture in one sitting – because he read. He was avid reader to remain abreast of contemporary global systems.

He was bridge: Between town and gown, between “Daily Times” and “The Guardian”, between military and civilian, between Kalabari and Nigeria, between old journalism and new. Nigeria today has many journalists but few journalism builders. Many diplomats but few diplomatic architects. Many politicians but few intellectual politicians. Dele Cole was all three. He belonged to generation that put country above self – scholars who left Pennsylvania and Cambridge to serve in Cabinet Office for peanuts.

His death in London, after ICU, also reminds us of the question we keep asking: Why do our statesmen die abroad? Why can’t we build hospitals that can keep an 86-year-old alive at home? That is a story for another day. Today, we mourn. We mourn a teacher. A historian. A journalist. A diplomat. A father to Tonye Cole and many adopted children in journalism. Adieu, Chief PDC. Abonnema’s pride. Nigeria’s library.

LADBONE @ 80: The Bonuola Day that Cole should have lit…
AND then this week, history delivered a cruel coincidence – a day of joy and a day of mourning intertwined. The same man whom Dele Cole endorsed from “Daily Times” in 1983 to be first editor of “The Guardian” – Mr. Lade Bonuola – clocked 80 on Thursday, October 22, 2026. The very week Cole died. On Thursday, at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, the aristocracy of Nigerian journalism gathered not to mourn, but to celebrate. To celebrate LADBONE at 80. A book titled “LADBONE: A LIFE IN PRINT” published by Premium Times Books Ltd was presented to mark the glorious day. The hall was full – journalists who represented various spectrums from “Daily Times” to “The Guardian”. From old “Daily Times” men in agbada who worked in Kakawa in 1970s, to “The Guardian”‘s Rutam House generation, to “Premium Times” digital generation. It was a reunion of the tribe Dele Cole helped in building. Every one who recalled early days of “The Guardian” remembered and paid tribute to the role of Dr. Cole in rebuilding “Daily Times” and setting up the niche newspaper by late Alex Ibru.

Lade Bonuola – Ladbone – is himself a legend. For those who don’t know: Fearless editor, master of prose, the man who gave “The Guardian” its voice and brand reputation. That famous Guardian editorial style – measured, erudite, uncompromising, literary – that was Ladbone. He was editor when “The Guardian” took on Buhari military government, when it was proscribed, when Alex Ibru was shot. He held the line. That he is 80 and still sharp, still writing, still intellectual, is testament to the school Dele Cole created. The book presentation was glorious. Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of “Premium Times”, spoke about why they published Ladbone. Femi Kusa, Martins Oloja, Reuben Abati, Debo Adesina, all paid tribute, in the book. Former editors, current editors, line editors – all came. But there was a vacuum. A seat that should have been occupied. Cole should have been there. He should have left the morgue and come to Civic Centre, VI, on Thursday to speak. His speech at the ceremony would have illuminated the occasion and moment he began in 1983. Imagine what he would have said: He would have told us how in 1983, Alex Ibru called him to his office in Apapa and said, “I want to build a newspaper that will be like Guardian in UK – independent, intellectual.” He would have told us how he said, “You need Lade Bonuola from Daily Times – Osoba recommended: has discipline.” That speech is now lost. Because library burnt on October 17, five days before Ladbone’s 80th.

The irony was painful and beautiful: On the day we celebrated 80 years of Ladbone’s life in print, we also mourned 86 years of Cole’s life that made Ladbone’s life in print possible. So Ladbone’s 80th is also Cole’s tribute. “Premium Times” Books did well to publish “LADBONE: A LIFE IN PRINT” – because it preserves history that Cole would have wanted preserved. It documents how “Daily Times” school became “The Guardian” school, how Kakawa birthed Rutam House. The photo sessions showed the striking relationship on Thursday.

At 80, Ladbone represents the last of the titans of that golden era – after Dele Giwa (killed 1986), after Stanley Macebuh (died), after Alex Ibru (died 2011), now after Dele Cole (died 2026). He is the last library standing from that generation. We must protect Ladbone. We must interview him more. We must archive his memories before another library burns.

At Civic Centre, as journalists laughed, hugged, and bought the book, the spirit of Dele Cole was there. He was there in every mention of 1983. He was there in every mention of “Daily Times” to “The Guardian” transition. He was there in Lade’s smile. He should have departed thereafter – after Ladbone’s 80th – not before. God knows best. But we can still honour him by ensuring Ladbone’s book is read, by ensuring that “The Guardian” remains what Alex Ibru with him, Osoba and Bonuola envisioned: Conscience, Nurtured by Truth.

Happy 80th, Ladbone. Thank you for life in print. Rest in peace, Dele Cole. Thank you for making life in print possible. One library burnt. One library at 80 still stands. Let us cherish the one that stands while mourning the one that burnt. May their legacies – “The Guardian”, “Daily Times”, intellectual journalism – never die! Adieu PDC. Happy Birthday Ladbone.