The remains of former Senate President Dr. Joseph Wayas have once again been abandoned at the National Hospital in Abuja after spending 33 months in a London morgue.
Following the arrival of Waya’s remains in Nigeria on July 10, 2024, 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.
Community leaders and family members urged the Cross River State government to expedite the burial process to honor Wayas’ legacy appropriately.
Chief Ajong Ibed of the Basang community in Obanliku LGA, where Wayas hails, said the body was abandoned and dismissed claims that there are issues amongst the central planning committee members.
“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,” he said.
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.
On his part, Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Bassey Out and Chairman of the Publicity Committee for the burial, 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.
“All committees have been working towards the burial. We’re 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,” he said.
Also, Williams Ben, one of the kinsmen, and a youth leader 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.”
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