The Basang Nation, a collection of clans in Obanliku LGA of Cross River State where former Senate President, late Dr Joseph Wayas hailed, has appealed to the Senate President, Dr Godswill Akpabio to help evacuate the remains of the late senator.
In a letter of congratulation to Akpabio and his colleagues in the National Assembly, they said they want to remind them that the remains of Senator Wayas has been abandoned in a UK hospital morgue.
Wayas died in a London hospital at 80 years in November 2021 after a protracted illness, running close to two years.
The president of Basang Nation and leader of the 8th Executive council of Basang Development union, Hon. Sylvanus Anyawho signed the letter.
Anyawho disclosed that the consolation of Wayas’s immediate family and that of the community is that as a successor to the late senator from the south South region, “we have no doubt that you will immediately put machinery in motion to evacuate his remains home for burial.
“Senate President Sir, following our persistent call on Government to intervene in the burial arrangements of our leader, and son, sequel to the abandonment of his remains in a UK hospital, the senators representing the three senatorial districts in Cross River State, on the 4th of April, 2023 sponsored a motion in the floor of the Senate advocating for the intervention of Government in the burial arrangements.”
On the suggestion by Cross River Senators in the Senate that Wayas’s name be immortalised by naming a national monument after him, the Basang Nation objected, saying such will have no consequential benefits to the immediate community.
“Senate president sir, recall that senator Dr. Joseph Wayas was just commencing a second term in office when he was ousted by the military junta. He made promises to his community and constituency.
“It will take the community a long time to have his replacement, just like it took the entire South South zone forty years to have you replace him as Senate President.
“Therefore, our position and agitation is that Dr. Wayas, former Senate president from 1979-1983 should be immortalized with projects that will be beneficial to his immediate family, his community and the senatorial district,” the community said.
The Basang Nation appealed that projects such as the construction of Basang west road, Urbanization of Sankwala town, and conversion of Bebi campus of FCE Obudu to a Federal University of Agriculture or a Federal Medical Center be considered.
