Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has paid tribute to the late Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole, describing his death at the age of 86 as a significant loss to Nigeria, particularly in diplomacy, journalism and public service.
Obasanjo, in a tribute to the deceased, described Cole as a trusted ally whose counsel shaped critical moments in the country’s history.
He recalled that their relationship dated back several decades to his tenure as military Head of State, when Cole served in the Cabinet Office, but said their bond deepened during his administration from 1999 to 2007.
According to the former president, Cole was appointed his Special Adviser on International Relations in 1999 because Nigeria needed…