Kinsmen of late Senate President Dr Joseph Wayas have expressed fears that the body of their patriarch has again been abandoned at the National Hospital, Abuja.
Wayas’ remains arrived Nigeria after 33 months in a London morgue, on 10 July 2024.
Soon after, the Cross River State government set up several committees to plan for the burial but did not announce specific date for the event.
Three months after of the arrival of the body in the country, Wayas’ kinsmen are complaining over the slow pace of burial preparations.
Many of the kinsmen suspect that there may be issues, once more, amongst members of the Burial Planning Committee, as happened with the earlier one set up by former governor Ben Ayade.
One of the kinsmen, a youth leader named Williams Ben, said, “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.”
But a chief in Basang community in Obanliku LGA, where Wayas hailed from, Ajong Ibed, disagreed that the body was abandoned. He also dismissed claims that there are issues amongst the central planning committee members.
According to him, “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.”
Ibed 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 was given by Chairman of Publicity Committee for the burial, and Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Bassey Otu.
He explained that everything was set but that the committee is waiting for the Presidency to fix a convenient date 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.”
Kinsmen lament ‘abandonment’ of Wayas’ body in Abuja after 33 months in London morgue