The remains of Dr. Joseph Wayas, Nigeria’s former Senate President, will finally be laid to rest on November 30, 2024 after spending about three years in a morgue in the United Kingdom.
Wayas passed away on November 30, 2021, at 80, in a London hospital, after a prolonged illness.
Dr. Dorn-Cklaimz Enamhe, Secretary of the Central Planning Committee for Wayas’ burial, in a press briefing in Calabar confirmed the burial plans, which include a ceremony at UJ Esuene Stadium.
The body will then be transported to Bassang, Obanliku Local Government Area, for interment.
Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu facilitated Wayas’ repatriation to Nigeria in July 2024. Governor Otu has vowed to ensure dignified burials for prominent Cross River natives who pass away abroad, according to Politics Nigeria.
Dignitaries expected at the funeral include Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other prominent political figures. Wayas served as Senate President from 1979 to 1983, leaving an enduring legacy in Nigerian politics.
The burial brings closure to a prolonged period of uncertainty following Wayas’ passing. The ceremony will honour his contributions to Nigeria’s development and democratic growth.
