Second Republic Senate President Joseph Wayas, died on Thursday in a London hospital after a protracted illness at 80.
Born in Basang, Obudu, Cross River State on May 21, 1941, he had his secondary school education at Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha before he went to the United Kingdom where he studied at the Higher Tottenham Technical College, London.
He also attended the West Bromwich College of Commerce, Science and Technology, Birmingham and Aston University, Birmingham.
A stalwart of the then ruling National Party of Nigeria, NPN, he served as third Senate President from 1979 to 1983 before the Shehu Shagari administration was truncated by a coup that installed the then General Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s head of state.
Wayas was a founding member of the now-defunct All People’s Party. He later joined the opposition People’s Democratic Party in 2002.
Meanwhile, his Cross River state home governor, Professor Ben Ayade has announced the death of second Republic Senate President.
Ayade described Wayas’ death as “a monumental loss to Cross River State in particular and Nigeria as a whole”.
“As a state, Cross River is in pains as we mourn the passing of our illustrious son,” Ayade’s special adviser on media and publicity, Christian Ita, said.
“He was a rare gem. Dr Wayas’ demise is indeed a monumental loss to our dear state and Nigeria.”
According to the governor, “as Senate President, Dr Wayas contributed to the deepening of Nigeria’s democratic ethos through his robust and vibrant leadership of the upper legislative chamber.
“And 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.”
He condoled with Dr Wayas’ family, assuring them that his demise is a collective loss and the pains a shared one, adding, “we are with you in this moment of grief. We have you in our hearts and prayers” .
A beneficiary of the federal government scholarship, Wayas, who was fluent in several Nigerian languages, trained in the United States and United Kingdom.
After his doctorate degree, Wayas returned to Nigeria in 1973, and was at the airport appointed Commissioner by late Brigadier Jacob Esuene, military governor of the now defunct South-eastern state. At the time Wayas was 26.
In 1977, aged 34, Wayas was elected into the Constituent Assembly. Two years later, at 36, he as one of the biggest financiers of the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was elected President of the Nigerian Senate.
A personal friend of boxing legend Muhammed Ali, and promoter Don King, Wayas, in 1977 caused a stir in the US when he bought off Elizabeth Taylor’s controversial choice home in Beverly Hills.
A very private man since General Muhammed Buhari sacked the Shehu Shagari government in 1983, former President Goodluck Jonathan during his tenure honoured Wayas with the rank of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
Until the late General Sani Abacha gave Wayas a parcel of land in Asokoro, Abuja, the former Senate President did not have any property in the city. Unconfirmed reports had it that Abacha even helped build him the house.
