Fayemi mourns Uduaghan, Dele Cole, hails contributions to Nigeria

A former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has mourned the deaths of former Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, and elder statesman, Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole, describing their passing as a loss to Nigeria.

Fayemi, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, said the deceased made significant contributions to the country’s political, social and intellectual development through their respective careers in public service and other fields.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Head of Fayemi Media Office, Abuja, Ahmad Sajoh, the former governor described Uduaghan as a public servant whose administration focused on healthcare, infrastructure and human capital development in Delta State.

He noted that Uduaghan’s medical background and experience in political leadership shaped his understanding of governance and the responsibilities of public office.

Fayemi said the former governor’s death underscored the importance of public service and the need for leaders to remain committed to improving the lives of the people they serve.

On Dele Cole, Fayemi described the late elder statesman as an influential figure whose contributions to diplomacy, journalism and national discourse earned him recognition among Nigeria’s distinguished public figures.

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.

According to Fayemi, the late diplomat’s experience and counsel would be particularly missed at a time when the country needs the wisdom and perspectives of seasoned statesmen.

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“Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole served Nigeria in different capacities, but they shared a commitment to making their contributions to the society in which they lived,” he said.

“Their passing is a painful reminder that the nation continues to lose men whose experience, service and perspectives remain valuable to our collective progress.”

Fayemi added that although their deaths had left painful voids in their families and communities, their contributions would endure through the people they served and the institutions they helped shape.

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.

The former governor urged the bereaved families to draw comfort from the lives their loved ones lived and the contributions they made to society.

“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,” Fayemi said.