Joseph Wayas ex-Senate President is dead, Ayade mourns

Portrait of Joseph Wayas

Portrait of Joseph Wayas

Second Republic Senate President in Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Wayas is dead.
He was 80 years old.

His death, which happened in London, was confirmed by Governor Ben Ayade of Wayas home state of Cross River.

Ayade mourned Wayas’ transition in a post on Facebook.

“I received with profound sense of loss and shock, the sad news of the death of Former President of the Nigerian Senate, Dr. Joseph Wayas.

“As a state, Cross River is in pains as we mourn the passing of our illustrious son. He was a rare gem. Dr Wayas’ demise 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 of the upper legislative chamber.

“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.

“I condole with Dr Wayas’ family. His demise is a collective loss and the pains a shared one”.

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Wayas was the Senate President between 1979 and 1983 before the military led by Muhammadu Buhari terminated civil rule on the last day of 1983.

Wayas was born in Basang, Obudu, Cross River State on 21 May 1941 and attended the Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha.

He went to the United Kingdom where he studied at the Higher Tottenham Technical College, London, the West Bronwich College of Commerce, Science and Technology, Birmingham and Aston University, Birmingham.

Returning to Nigeria, he worked for several companies in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Wayas is a member of the Society of International Affairs at the Lincoln University, United States.

Wayas joined the Federal Government in 1969-72.

He was commissioner for Transport, South-Eastern State, now broken into Akwa Ibom and Cross River states from 1972-74.

He was a member of the Constituent Assembly in 1977-78.

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