Ukandi Odey
Preparations to accord late former President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Joseph Wayas, have been intensified.
An emergent coalition body, Who is Who in Cross River North, has picked up the gauntlet and is mobilizing its citizens at home and in the diaspora to pull resources together to repatriate the remains of the late cerebral politician from a London hospital where they have been since his death on November 30, 2021.
According to verifiable sources, the Northern Cross River group has been cross-crossing and engaging stake holders to get the project through since Dr Don Kclaimz Enamhe sparked the challenge and convened the platform to end what was becoming an embarrassment.
As at press time, the leadership of Who is Who in Cross River North had reached out to the hospital authorities in London, ascertained the accumulated bills, and has worked out modalities to pay up and bring the body of the former Senate President home for interment.
Reports also confirm that the late national icon’s family is in the desired mood and exuding vital internal understanding that the body of Northern Cross River is exploring to execute an assignment which should have been a national commitment.
Meanwhile,the Governor of Cross River State, Sen Prince Bassey Otu, has reportedly waded in, promising that the late former Nigeria Senate President, Dr Joseph Wayas, would be given a befitting state burial.
Governor Otu, who gave the assurance while playing host to delegation of The Who is Who Forum of Northern Cross River State in Calabar, regretted the delay in the burial of the elder statesman.
The group’s delegation led by the Burial Committee Chairman and former Chief Judge of Cross River State, Justice Maurice Eneji, had in attendance the Convener of the Forum, Sir Dorn Cklaimz Enamhe, and others.
The statement of Governor Otu is coming days after his deputy, Rt. Hon Peter Odey, stated that the State will take full responsibility of the burial ceremony of the late former Senate President.
It would be recalled that the Cross River State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Peter Odey, had assured a delegation of Who Is Who Forum In Northern Cross River State, a sociopolitical pressure group of the famous old Ogoja area comprising Obanliku, Obudu, Bekwarra, Ogoja and Yala local government areas, that the State government will be fully committed to the burial.
Odey, expressed happiness and satisfaction with the Forum and its efforts to ensure that our late Elder statesman, Dr Joseph Wayas is laid to rest.
Commended and commendable as the Forum and its efforts have been, many commentators wonder whether the Forum will endure beyond the burial of the late Dr Joseph Wayas, GCON, and what will be its focus.
