President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family of former Senate President, Joseph Wayas, 80, on the passing of the legislator, whose influence and contributions to Nigeria’s democracy remain indelible.
Wayas was the Second Republic President of the Senate during the administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari between October 1, 1979 and December 31, 1983. Dr. Alex Ekwueme was the Vice President while Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke was the Speaker, House of Representatives.
He was the 4thPresident of the Nigerian Senate. The former Senate president passed away in the early hours of Tuesday in a London hospital.
The president, in a statement by his media aide, Femi Adesina, noted the sacrifices of Wayas, who started taking up leadership responsibilities at an early age, turning a Senate President at 38, and remaining vibrant and dynamic in mentoring leaders long after he retired from politics.
Buhari joined the National Assembly, government and people of Cross River State, his friends and associates in mourning the loss, believing his legacies will be approximated for posterity.
The president prayed that his soul would find rest with the Lord.
Also former president Olusegun Obasanjo mourned the death of the former Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas, whose death occurred in the United Kingdom at the age of 80.
Obasanjo, in a statement issued yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital and signed by his special assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, declared that Wayas, who served between the year 1979 and 1983 was a nationalist, who lived for the welfare and security of the common man.
Declaring that the late Senate President would be sorely missed, considering “his giant political strides and contributions to the building of the Nigerian nation”, Obasanjo described the deceased former federal lawmaker as a special breed, who contributed immensely to the development of the country and became a parliamentarian during the Second Republic.
“He was such a great patriot who had contributed his own quota to the legislative governance and overall development of Nigeria. He always pitched his tent with the truth. He maintained a cordial relationship with his colleagues in the Senate and was well-groomed in legislative practices and procedures,” Obasanjo was quoted to have said.
Obasanjo said Wayas’ knowledge of practices and procedures of the Senate assisted him greatly in running the affairs of the Senate. He demonstrated a high level of maturity and level-headedness. His disposition towards effective nation building remains unparalleled.
“He lived for the welfare and security of the common man. His passion about a better and safer society was exceptional. His steadfastness, commitment to the cause of one Nigeria and optimistic spirit towards national development will continue to inspire us both now and in the future”.
