The kinsmen of late Senate President Dr. Joseph Wayas have raised concerns over the fate of the late lawmaker that have not been buried 33 months after his death.
This is even as they feared that the body of their late patriarch has again been abandoned at the National Hospital, Abuja, after arrived Nigeria after near to three years in a London morgue.
The body, they said was brought to Abuja on 10 July 2024.
Recall the body was brought back after the Cross River State Government set up several committees to plan for the burial. However, the Government did not announce specific date for the burial.
Three months after of the arrival of the body in the country, Wayas’ kinsmen have raised concern. They are complaining over the slow pace of burial preparations by the State Government.
The the kinsmen are suspecting that there might be issues, once more, amongst members of the Burial Planning Committee.
Recall that the earlier Burial Committee set up by former Governor Ben Ayade could not carryout the function due to disagreements.
Reacting to the delayed burial of the former number three citizen of the country, a youth leader and kinsman of the late Senate President, named Williams Ben, described the delay as a shame.
“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,” he lamented.
But a Chief in Basang Community in Obanliku LGA, where Wayas hailed from, Ajong Ibed, disagreed with the youth leader. He stated that the body was abandoned.
Ibed also 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.
The Chief also disclosed that the Works sub-Committee of the Funeral Planning Committee was erecting the blocks for the mausoleum where the remains would be interred.
Further clarification supporting the views of Ibed, was given by the Chairman of Publicity Committee for the burial Bassey Otu. The Chairman who double as the Chief Press Secretary to Governor, stated that the preparation for the burial is on top gear.
Otu explained that everything was set for the burial. He also added that the Committee is waiting for the Presidency to fix a convenient date for the burial. He stated that this is necessary since it is a national burial.
“All Committees have been working towards the burial. We’re actually 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,” Otu said.
source: Daily Post
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