BY: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
The Senate has called on the Federal government to as a matter of urgent concern to take over the burial of 2nd Republic Senate President, late Sen. (Dr.) Joseph Wayas.
The Senate also agreed that a national monument be named after late Senator Joseph Wayas
These resolutions were taken after deliberating on a Motion of urgent matter sponsored by Sen. Gershom Bassey, and co sponsored by Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe and Senator Sandy Onor, from Cross River State.
The Senate also said that the burial should not exceed the end of April, 2023 to avoid a national disgrace.
It would be recalled that Joseph Wayas who was born on 21st May, 1941 and died on 30th November, 2021.
He was Nigeria’s Senate President during the Second Republic (1979-1983).
Until his death, Wayas was a strong believer in true Federalism as the only solution to Nigeria’s democratic problems.
He was also a member of the 1994/1995 National Constitutional Conference and founding member of the All People’s Party (APP).
“Wayas brought a high degree of knowledge, style, pomp and grandeur to the leadership of the Second Republic Senate”.
“The remains of the late Senate President Senator Joseph Wayas is yet to be buried 16 months after death thereby causing a national embarrassment, the Sponsors said”.
He headed the National Assembly between 1979 -1983 and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The motion said further delay in the burial of Nigeria’s 2nd Republic Senate President will put the Senate in bad light.
In a related development, the ptresident of Basang Nation and leader of the 8th Executive Council of Basang Development Association (BDA), a socio cultural organization with its headquarters in Basang, a political Ward in Obanliku local government overnment area of the state, Hon Anyawho Sylvanus has commended Distinguished Senators Gershom Bassey, Sandy Onor, and Jerigbe Agom for sponsoring the Motion on the floor of Red Chambers.
He said, ,”we have received and watched in appreciation your motion as was presented at Senate plenary on April 4th, 2023 calling on the federal government to takeover the burial arrangements of our Son and leader, late senator Dr.Joseph Wayas.”
“The entire Basang people, both at home and in diaspora do appreciate your call on the Federal government to intervene as a matter of urgent concern”.
According to him, “the delayed internment of his remains have become an embarrassment to us his community, kinsmen, local government, the state as well as the entire country.”
“We also appreciate your call to the government to immortalized senator Dr. Joseph by naming the “Senate Wing” after him. As his immediate community, we request through you our representatives to the National Assembly that a National library be built in Wayas compound and the College of Education Campus in Bebi be converted to Wayas University of Agriculture and an Educational Foundation be set up to be headed by his family and Basang community.”
“These to us, will be a more appreciable way of immortalizing senator Dr. Joseph Wayas, he further stated “.
