The Senate yesterday paid glowing tributes to the late Joseph Wayas, who died on Nov. 30, 2021, at 80.
Wayas was Nigeria’s Senate President in the course of the Second Republic. The previous Senate president was born in Basang, Obudu, Cross-River State on Could 21, 1941.
Chief of the Senate, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, whereas main the valedictory session in honour of the late Wayas at plenary, gave an outline of his lifetime journey.
“He attended Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha. He went to the UK the place he studied on the Larger Tottenham Technical School, London, the West Bronwich School of Commerce, Science and Know-how, Birmingham and Aston College.
“Returning to Nigeria, he labored as a supervisor from 1960-1969 for a number of firms in Nigeria and the UK;
“He additionally joined the Federal Authorities in 1969-72. He was commissioner for Transport, South-Japanese State, now Akwa Ibom and Cross River states from 1972-74.
“With the transition to civil rule in 1979, Sen. Wayas was elected to the Senate on the Nationwide Party of Nigeria (NPN) platform and appointed Senate President.
“He represented the Ogoja Senatorial District alongside Sen. Joseph Ansa who represented Calabar Senatorial District.”
On his half, Senate minority chief, Sen. Abba Moro stated, “Wayas was homely, amiable and was all smiles each time.
“He was a really dedicated Nigerian. He presided over the Senate when Nigeria was struggling to get her foothold on democracy and procedures of democracy.
“Apart the founding fathers of democracy in Nigeria, Wayas was the founding father of the brand new era of democrats at the moment.”
In his tribute, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, stated that Wayas introduced glamour and candour to the legislature.
In his tribute, Sen. Seriake Dickson (PDP- Bayelsa) stated Wayas gave his perfect, including “He had a chance to preside over the chamber within the second republic, an project he carried on with dignity to one of the best of his skills.”
Recall that the corpse of Wayas, who died in a London hospital, was delivered to Nigeria on July 10, 2024 after over two years in a United Kingdom morgue.
He’s due for burial in Cross River State on Nov. 30, three years after his demise.
