Uduaghan/Dele Cole: Nigeria Has Lost Distinguished Public Servants– Fayemi

A former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has mourned the deaths of former Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and elder statesman, Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole.
Fayemi, who also served as chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), described their passing as a loss to the country.
He said the two men, despite their different professional backgrounds and public engagements, made significant contributions to Nigeria’s political, social and intellectual development.
He described Uduaghan as a public servant whose years in government were marked by efforts to advance the development of Delta State, particularly in healthcare, infrastructure and human capital development.
Fayemi noted that Uduaghan’s background in medicine and experience in public office gave him valuable insights into governance and the responsibility of leadership.
He said the former governor’s death underscored the importance of public service and the enduring obligation of leaders to improve the lives of the people they serve.
On Dele Cole, Fayemi described the late diplomat and public figure as a man of considerable intellect and experience whose contributions to diplomacy, journalism and national discourse earned him a place among Nigeria’s distinguished voices.
He said Cole belonged to a generation of Nigerians whose professional achievements and engagement with national affairs enriched public debate and contributed to nation-building.
Fayemi added that Cole’s knowledge, experience and counsel would be greatly missed, particularly at a time when the country needed the wisdom of experienced statesmen.
“Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole served Nigeria in different capacities, but they shared a commitment to making meaningful contributions to society. Their passing is a painful reminder that the nation continues to lose men whose experience, service and perspectives remain valuable to our collective progress,” he said.
The former governor said although their deaths had created painful voids in their families and communities, their contributions would endure through the people they served, the institutions they helped shape and the examples they set.
He extended his condolences to the families, friends, associates and political colleagues of the deceased, as well as the governments and people of Delta and Rivers states.
Fayemi urged the bereaved families to draw strength from the knowledge that both men lived lives of consequence and left legacies that would be remembered beyond their lifetimes.
“On behalf of my family, I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole. I pray that God grants them the fortitude to bear these painful losses, comforts all who mourn them and gives those they have left behind the strength and wisdom to carry forward the worthy aspects of their legacies,” he said.
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