The remains of the fourth National Assembly Senate President, Dr Joseph Wayas, who died 33 months ago and lying in a hospital in the United Kingdom, yesterday, arrived by 4:30 a.m. at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.
It was immediately deposited at the National Hospital.
Receiving the remains, the senator representing Cross River North, Jarigbe Agom, and member of House of Representatives representing Obanliku Bekwarra Obodu Federal Constituency of Cross River State, Peter Akpanke, lauded the state governor, Bassey Otu, for bringing the deceased elder statesman’s body home.
Also at the gateway were Mrs Isiaka Wayas, family members, friends and prominent sons and daughters of Cross River North Senatorial District, including Senator William Eteng-Jones, Johnny Agom and Dr Dorncklaimz Enamhe.
Wayas, who held sway as Senate President between October 1, 1979, and December 31, 1983, died in a London hospital on November 30, 2021, at the age of 80.
His wife also passed on 12 days after and has since been buried, while the revered politician’s body remained in a morgue in London, a development that sparked controversies.
The remains were accompanied by the eldest daughter, Donna Wayas, alongside Auntie Echiko Odey and Chief John Okom.
Recall that when the politician and his wife died, the then Governor Ben Ayade’s government immediately set up a committee, headed by former Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, to oversee the burial activities.
To facilitate the committee’s work, Ayade was said to have approved and immediately released N200 million, with a promise to release another tranche of N50 million.
It was gathered that the committee released N100 million to a sub-committee vested with the task of repatriating the remains, headed by former Director General of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Dave Ashang to liaise with the family to achieve the purpose.
At the time of filing this report, a condolence register had been opened in the nation’s capital.
Chief Executive Officer of Resilient Water Accelerator, Kate Hughes, noted that the inauguration of the project marked a significant milestone in efforts to building resilience and ensuring sustainable water access for all.
