Kinsmen of the late Senate President Dr. Joseph Wayas have voiced fears that the body of their patriarch has once again been abandoned at the National Hospital in Abuja.
Wayas’ remains returned to Nigeria on July 10, 2024, after spending 33 months in a London morgue. Following the arrival of the body, the Cross River State government established several committees to organize the burial; however, no specific date has been announced for the event.
Three months after the arrival of Wayas’ remains, his kinsmen are growing increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of burial preparations.
Concerns have been raised that internal disputes within the Burial Planning Committee could be hindering progress, similar to issues experienced with an earlier committee set up by former Governor Ben Ayade.
In light of these delays, family members and community leaders are urging the Cross River State government to expedite the burial process to honour Wayas’ legacy appropriately.
One of the kinsmen, a youth leader named Williams Ben, who spoke with Daily Post said, “It is a big shame that a prominent son of the country like our patriarch is treated in this manner.
“They had ‘abandoned’ the body in London since he died in November 2021. Now the body is again abandoned even in his country three months after it was brought back home.”
But a chief in Basang community in Obanliku LGA, where Wayas hailed from, Ajong Ibed, disagreed that the body was abandoned. He also dismissed claims that there are issues amongst the central planning committee members.
According to him, “I hear that the various committees have been meeting in Calabar, preparatory to recommending a convenient date of burial to the state governor.
“I am sure the funeral will take place most probably after the Local Government Council elections in November 2024.”
Ibed disclosed that the Works Sub-committee of the Funeral Planning Committee was erecting the blocks for the mausoleum where the remains would be interred.
Further clarification was given by Chairman of Publicity Committee for the burial, and Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Bassey Otu.
He explained that everything was set but that the committee is waiting for the Presidency to fix a convenient date since it is a national burial.
He said, “All committees have been working towards the burial. We’re actually awaiting a convenient date from the presidency. It’s going to be a national burial. You know Wayas was the number three citizen of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983.”