FINALLY, WAYAS, ‘GOES HOME’ NOV. 30 ….Buhari, Obasanjo, NASS Pay Glowing Tributes
Anthony EKPO-BASSEY and Judex OKORO
BARELY three years after, the mortal remains of Nigeria's former Senate President, Senator Dr. Joseph Wayas, is set and sure to be laid to rest on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at his country home in Sankwala, Obanliku local government area of Cross River state.
Burial arrangements
Announcing the burial arrangements in Calabar, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State and Chairman of the Central Planning Committee of Wayas’ burial, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, stated that "a service of songs will be held at the Assemblies of God Church, Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki, Abuja on Saturday, November 23, 2024.
On Thursday, November 28, 2024 the body will depart the mortuary, with a brief stop at the deceased's Abuja residence, followed by a valedictory session at the Senate Chambers. In Calabar, after a brief reception at Margaret Ekpo International Airport, the lying-in-state and a night of tributes will take place at the U.J. Esuene Stadium."
He went on: "On Friday, November 29th, 2024 a night vigil will be held at the deceased's country home in Sankwala, Obanliku Local Government Area. And on Saturday, November 30 2024, traditional rites and the church funeral service, followed by interment, will take place at same venue."
With the announcement of obsequies, Senator Joseph Wayas, who died in a London Hospital on November 30 2021, at the age of 80, after a protracted illness, will finally join his ancestors in the land of the great beyond. Expectedly, family, friends, compatriots, political associates as well as his loved ones will finally bid farewell to him, and his spirit shall surely find rest in his land of origin and birth.
Thirty-three months after he breathed his last, Joseph Wayas body arrived Nigeria on July 10, 2024 and was received at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 4:30am by his family, friends, and political stalwarts, including Senator Jarigbe Agom, and Hon. Peter Akpanke, as well as his kinsmen from the northern senatorial district of Cross River state.
Wayas’ birth and early life
The late Joseph Wayas was born in Basang, Obanliku local government area of Cross River state on May 21, 1941. At a time when formal education was a rarity and a privilege, the young Wayas was fortunate to acquire formal education within and outside the country. He attended the Dennis Memorial Grammar School in Onitsha. He also studied at the Higher Tottenham Technical College, London and the West Bronwich College of Commerce, Science and Technology, Birmingham as well as, Aston University, Birmingham.
Unlike now, when job opportunities are scarce for young school leavers and graduates in the country, on his return to Nigeria, young, energetic and vibrant Joseph Wayas, at the time, worked as a manager at several companies from 1960-69. In his quest to serve his fatherland, he joined the federal government and worked from 1969 to 1972. He was the Commissioner for Transportation at the then South Eastern states from 1972 to 1974. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly in 1977 to 1978.
Foray into politics
When politics beckoned upon him, the sun shone so brightly on his political career and he became successful at partisan politics. Joseph Wayas contested as a senator, representing his Senatorial district, under the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and defeated Franklin Atake of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). At the National Assembly, the Senate to be precise, he was elected the Senate President.
During his time at the Senate, he had a good working relationship with President Shehu Shagari and ensured smooth and speedy passage of executive bills. It is to his credit, that he was the first Nigerian Senate President to act as the President of Nigeria, when the then President Shehu Shagari and his vice, Alex Ekwueme, had traveled outside the country for official engagements. Wayas piloted the affairs of the nation for 16 days.
Furthermore, he was a founding member of the 1994/95 National Constitution Conference and founding member of the All Peoples Party in 1998. Wayas later joined the People's Democratic Party in 2001during the first tenure of former Governor Donald Duke of Cross River State.
A core democrat and compatriot, Wayas was really exposed and had transversed the length and breadth of Nigeria. Consequently, he understood and spoke the three main Nigerian languages of Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba, with eloquence and was as good as the native speakers of each of those languages. The news of his death in London, about three years ago, sent shocking waves across various parts of his home country with prominent Nigerian leaders paid glowing tributes in his honour and memory.
Glowing tributes as Wayas Goes Home
Former President Muhammadu Buhari joined the National Assembly, government and people of Cross River State in mourning the loss of the former Nigeria's Senate President and prayed that his legacies will be preserved for posterity.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the former president acknowledged the sacrifices of Wayas, whom he said took on leadership responsibilities as a Senate President at the young age of 38, and stated that he remained vibrant and dynamic in mentoring leaders long after his retirement from active politics.
In the same vein, former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who expressed sorrow over the loss of the former federal lawmaker noted his contributions to the development of the country. In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo said that the federal lawmaker would "be sorely missed in view of his giant political strides and contributions to the building of the Nigerian nation."
The statement further read: "Dr. Wayas was a special breed who contributed immensely to the development of the country and became a parliamentarian in the Second Republic. He was such a great patriot who had contributed his quota to the legislative governance and overall development of Nigeria. He always pitched his tent with the truth. He maintained a cordial relationship with his colleagues in the Senate and well-groomed in legislative practices and procedures."
Former Senate President, David Mark described Wayas as a flamboyant, vibrant and distinguished parliamentarian who left positive footprints on the sands of time. In a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Mumeh, Mark expressed regret that: "The death of Dr. Wayas indicated that most of the key players of that era have gone to the great beyond." He further described his late predecessor as a great nationalist and parliamentarian per excellence. "Senator Wayas was a great nationalist. He was a parliamentarian per excellence. His diligence, honesty and common dedication to the ideals of nationhood remains reference points."
In an emotional tribute published on the PEOPLES DAILY newspaper of December 9, 2021 (online), Simon Shango, nephew of the late Chief J. S. Tarka wrote: "Senator Joe Wayas was a great man. In the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and in the Shehu Shagari’s government, he was the bridge that linked the South and North. He was friendly with the executive arm of government and presided over a harmonious National Assembly with other great legislators, including great men like Senator Joseph Tarka, Senate Leader Olusola Saraki farther of the president in the eight senate Senator Dr. Bukola Saraki, Senator Abraham Adesanya, Senator Ibrahim Kolo, Senator Mahmud Waziri, Senator Basil Okwu, Senator John Wash Pam, Senator Jaja Wachuku and Senator Sabo Bakin Zuwo who later became governor of Kano State.
He was at home with the executive arm of government and rubbed shoulder with ministers like Malam Adamu Ciroma, Alhaji Umaru Dikko, Chief Richard Akinjide, Alhaji Bello Maitama Yusuf, Professor Iya Abubakar, Sylvester Ugoh who was a former central bank governor, the former A.B.U Vice Chancellor Professor Ishaya Audu, the former commonwealth Secreatry general Emeka Anyaoku and Dr. Wahab Dosumu, to mention just but a few."
According to Shango, "Because he was one of the founders of the party, the national Secretariat was his home as he had no problem with national officers like the chairman Chief Augustus Adisa Akinloye, the national secretary Alhaji Uba Ahmed, the deputy national chairman North Shettima Ali Mongunu, the deputy national chairman South Chief Lulu Briggs, the national financial secretary Alhaji Bashir Tofa who later contested against Chief M.K.O Abiola in the annulled presidential election of June 12, 1993."
Shango added that: "The National Assembly did not know the rancor that now exist over passing of bills whether they were budgets or any bills produced by the executive arm of government. Senate President Joe Wayas encouraged the regular meeting of national caucus of the ruling party where issues were amicably discussed before they were tabled before any chamber of the National Assembly."
Also paying tribute when a delegation of leaders from Cross River State, led by former Justice Minister, Chief Kanu Agabi, paid him a courtesy visit to formally invite the Senate to be part of the burial. The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio gave assurance that the Senate will participate fully in the burial of former President of the Senate, Dr Joseph Wayas, describing the deceased, who was the first Senate President of Nigeria's South-South extraction, “as a trail blazer, a man of style, candour and charismatic Senate President.”
According to an ancient Greek Philosopher, Aristotle Stagiritis, "Death is the most terrible of all things, for it is the end, and nothing is thought to be either good or bad for the dead." As the mortal remains of Senator Dr. Joseph Wayas would be committed to mother earth on Saturday, November 30, 2024, the governments of Cross River State and indeed Nigeria, as well as his fellow compatriots deeply mourn his demise and pray that his soul rest in perfect peace.
