Ex-Senate President, Joseph Wayas Dies In London
- Cross River State is in pains – Gov Ayade
BY EDMOND ODOK – Former President of Nigerian Senate in the Second Republic, Dr Joseph Wayas, has died at the age of 80.
According to Christian Ita, Special Adviser to the Cross River governor on Media and Publicity, Wayas died in the early hours of Tuesday, November 30, 2021, in a London hospital.
Born on 21st May 1941, Dr Wayas, who served as the Senate President between 1979 and 1983, was from Cross River State.
Reacting to the sad news on Thursday in Calabar, Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, expressed regret at the passing of Dr Wayas and described the death as “a monumental loss” to Cross River State in particular and Nigeria in general.
A statement by Ayade’s media aide, Christian Ita said the former Senate president has left indelible footprints on the sands of time, adding; “As a state, Cross River is in pain as we mourn the passing of our illustrious son. He was a rare gem.
“The demise of Dr Wayas is indeed a monumental loss to our dear state and Nigeria. As Senate President, Dr Wayas contributed to the deepening of Nigeria’s democratic ethos through his robust and vibrant leadership.
“Since his retirement from active politics, the former Senate President had been playing a fatherly and stabilising role in the politics and affairs of our state.”
The statement, which condoled with the family of late Dr Wayas, said his demise was a “collective loss and the pains a shared one”, adding; “We are with you in this moment of grief. We have you in our hearts and prayers.”
Dr Wayas was born in Basang, Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State. He attended the Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, and later went to the United Kingdom where he studied at the Higher Tottenham Technical College, London, the West Bromwich College of Commerce, Science and Technology, Birmingham, and Aston University, Birmingham.
According to Wikipedia, on returning to Nigeria, Wayas worked as a Manager or Controller from 1960-1969 for several companies in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. He was a member of the Society of International Affairs (SIA) at Lincoln University, United States.
He joined the Federal Government from 1969 to 1972 and was Commissioner for Transport, South-Eastern State, now Akwa Ibom and Cross River States between 1972 and 1974.
A member of the Constituent Assembly in 1977-78, Wayas was elected to the Senate as a member of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1979 and thereafter emerged the Senate President, having an excellent working relationship with President Shehu Shagari.
In his lifetime, Wayas also served as Deputy Chairman of the 1994/1995 National Constitutional Conference Commission that organised and midwifed the National Conference itself. In 1998, Wayas was a founding member of the All People’s Party (APP) and later joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2001 at the instance of the then Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke. – With NAN reports
