…  Wayas

By Jude Opara and Ubong Ukpong, Abuja and Kunle Idowu, Abeokuta

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family of former Senate President, Joseph Wayas, on the passing of the elder statesman, whose “influence and contributions to Nigeria’s democracy remain indelible.

The president’s condolence message is contained in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, yesterday in Abuja.

President Buhari noted the sacrifices of Wayas, who started taking up leadership responsibilities at an early age, turning a Senate President at 38, and remaining vibrant and dynamic in mentoring leaders long after he retired from politics.

The president joined the National Assembly, Government and people of Cross River, his friends and associates in mourning Wayas, believing his legacies would be approximated for posterity.

He prayed that his soul would find rest with the Lord.

Similarly, former president Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that the late Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas, lived for the welfare and security of the common man.

The late senate president died early hours of yesterday, in United Kingdom after illness at age 80.

Obasanjo, in a statement signed his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, yesterday in Abeokuta noted that Wayas would be sorely missed in view of his giant political strides.

The former president noted that Wayas contributed to the building of the Nigerian nation, starting from his birth place, Bassang, in Cross River to every nook and cranny of the country.

“Dr. Wayas was a special breed who contributed immensely to the development of the country and became a parliamentarian in the second republic.

“He was such a great patriot who had contributed his own quota to the legislative governance and overall development of Nigeria.

“He always pitched its tent with the truth. He maintained a cordial relationship with his colleagues in the Senate and well-groomed in legislative practices and procedures,” Obasanjo said.

His knowledge of practices and procedures of the senate, according to Obasanjo helped him greatly in running the affairs of the upper chamber of the parliament.

Obasanjo explained that Wayas demonstrated high level of maturity and level-headedness, saying his disposition towards effective nation building remained unparalleled.

“He lived for the welfare and security of the common man. His passion about a better and safer society was exceptional.

“His steadfastness, commitment to the cause of one Nigeria and optimistic spirit towards national development will continue to inspire us both now and in the future,” he said.

The former president described the death as painful and commiserated with his family, Gov. Benedict Ayade, the entire people of Cross River and all associates of the late statesman.

Obasanjo prayed the Almighty God to grant the late leader a place among the righteous ones in paradise.

“May God also grant members of his immediate family the people and government of Cross River, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he said.

Also yesterday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, expressed sadness over the demise of a former President of the Senate, Dr Joseph Wayas.

Wayas, who served as the third President of the Senate from 1979 to 1983 died in a London hospital yesterday at the age of 80.

A statement in Abuja, yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, Gbajabiamila, while condoling the government and people of Cross River State over the loss of the elder statesman, noted that his contributions to the deepening of democracy in the country could not be overemphasized.

While praying for the repose of the soul of the elder statesman, the Speaker enjoined the family, friends and the people of Cross River State to take solace in the fact that the ex-President of the Senate, a founding member of the defunct All People’s Party (APP), contributed his part to the political development of Nigeria.

He Served Nigeria with Dedication, Integrity – Lawan

President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has condoled with the family of former Senate President, Joseph Wayas, who died on Dec. 2.

Lawan in a condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja yesterday, described the death of Wayas as a great loss for Nigeria.

He commiserated with the family of Wayas, Government and People of Cross River, friends and political associates of the late elder statesman.

“Sen. Joseph Wayas was a great lawmaker and political leader who served his country and people with dedication and integrity.

“As the President of the Senate in the Second Republic, Sen. Wayas led the upper chamber with competence and passion, he was a great symbol of his political era.

“Sen. Wayas continued to contribute to nation-building, democracy and socio-economic development of Nigeria even after he left public office in 1983.

“He played a significant role as Deputy Chairman of the 1994-95 National Constitutional Conference and took part in many other national assignments.

“Nigeria will sorely miss his wealth of experience,” Lawan said

He prayed to God to grant the late Wayas’ gentle soul a sweet repose and to his loved ones, the fortitude to bear his loss.

 Also yesterday, Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade of Cross River expressed regret at the death of Second Republic Senate President, Dr Joseph Wayas.

He described the death as “a monumental loss” to Cross River in particular and to Nigeria in general.

Wayas died in the early hours of Tuesday at a London hospital at the age of 80 years. He was born on May 21, 1941.

He was Nigeria’s senate president in the Second Republic between 1979 and 1983.

Gov. Ayade’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Christian Ita, said in a statement that the governor remarked that Wayas left indelible footprints on the sands of time.

“As a state, Cross River is in pains 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 read.

Ayade condoled with the Wayas family, assuring that his demise was a collective loss and the pains a shared one.

“We are with you in this moment of grief. We have you in our hearts and prayers,’’ the government assured the deceased family.

Wayas Was Bridge Builder, Lover of Masses – Group

A civil liberty group, Peace Action Transformation (PACT), yesterday, described the late former Senate President, Dr Joseph Wayas, as a bridge builder and lover of masses.

Wayas, who was senate president between 1979 and 1983, died in the early hours of yesterday at a London hospital, at the age of 80.

National Coordination of PACT, Mr Adegboyega Adeniji, the told NAN that Wayas would be remembered for standing on the side of the people when he led the senate.

Adeniji said: “We thank God for his life. He lived a fulfilled life as a Nigerian, being able to occupy the number three position in the Second Republic.

“He was a gentle man and very accommodating during his time. He was a bridge builder and throughout his tenure as senate president, there was peace.

“He was always on the side of the people and never pampered the executive.”

The national coordinator added that the office of the leader of the legislature was properly handled and distinct from the position of the executive during Wayas’ leadership.

This, according to him, is lacking nowadays.

“The greatest disservice to this nation is the inability of our legislature to represent the interest of the people.

“The executive arm can decide to do as it likes but the lawmakers, who are carrying the mandates of a particular segment of the nation before coming to the National Assembly collectively to aggregate our views, should stand by the people.

“The legislators nowadays are doing lots of disservice to the Nigerian people by hobnobbing with the executives at the detriment of the people,” he added.

Adeniji called on the present crop of political leaders to always strive to serve the people and bequeath a sustainable development for the humanity.

He said called on those aspiring to be in the legislature in the next dispensation to learn from the late senate president.

The national coordinator said that the legislature should always stand on the side of the people and shun any tendency to neglect those they were supposed to represent.

“The lesson is for in-coming legislators to appreciate that the essence is life is service to humanity and they must be able to conquer selfishness in order to achieve this.

Wayas, who was also the Deputy Chairman of the 1994 National Constitutional Conference, was a multi-linguistic, as he could speak Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages fluently.