Two years and nine months after his passing, the remains of late Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas, have arrived Nigeria for burial.
Recall that Wayas, who was Nigeria’s Senate President between October 1, 1979 and December 31,1983, died in a London hospital on November 30, 2021, aged 80.
The ex-Senate President’s wife died 12 days after. While his wife had since been buried, the politician’s remains had remained in a morgue in London, a development that had sparked controversies.
Some persons, who had concluded that the late octogenarian’s body had since been secretly interred in London, were surprised to see the remains back 33 months after.
His body was received at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, at 4:30a.m., yesterday, by his family, friends and some prominent sons and daughters of Cross River North senatorial district, among who were Senator Jarigbe Agom, Peter Akpanke, Johnny Agom, SAN, and Dr. Dom Enamhe.
At press time, the body, which was driven straight from the airport to the National Hospital, Abuja, had been deposited at the hospital’s mogue.
Speaking to newsmen after the body was received, Senator Agom, representing Cross River North and Peter Akpanke, representing Obudu, Bekwara Obanlikwu federal constituency, at the National Assembly, expressed happiness that the body had finally been brought home.
Also, his late wife’s family, though grieving, expressed relief at the development and appreciated all those who had facilated the return of his remains.
Recall that when the politician and his wife died, the then governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade’s government immediately set up a committee headed by former Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, to oversee the burial activities.