Andy Esiet, Calabar
Dr. Joseph Wayas
The Basang community of former late Senate President Dr. Joseph Wayas in Obanliku Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State, has expressed joy over plans by the National Assembly and the Federal Government to take over the burial of their son.
The Senate had in a motion by the Senator representing Cross River South Senatorial in the Senator Gershom Bassey and co-sponsored by Senators Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe and Sandy Onor of Cross River North and Central respectively called on the Federal Government to urgently take over the burial plans of Wayas. and also approved that it should name a national monument after him (Wayas).
The President of Basang Nation and leader of the 8th Executive Council of Basang Development Association (BDA), a socio cultural organization with it’s headquarters in Basang, a political Ward in Obanliku LGA of the state, Mr. Anyawho Sylvanus today in a statement in Calabar commended Senator Bassey and two others taking the delay in Wayas’s burial to the National Assembly.
He said, “we receive and watch in appreciation your motion as was presented at Senate plenary on Tuesday the 4th of April, 2023 calling on the federal government to takeover the burial arrangements of our Son and leader, late senator Dr Joseph Wayas and the entire Basang people, both at home and in diaspora do appreciate your call for Federal Government’s intervention.
Sylvanus said “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”.
Recall that Wayas was the 2nd Republic senate president (!979 to 1983) and died 16 months ago in London and the Cross River state government set up a committee for the burial but up till now nothing has happened and his family led by his first son, Mr. Joseph Wayas jnr has had some disagreement with the state government over funds and handling of the burial leading to current delay.
