July 12, (THEWILL) – Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has paid a condolence visit to the family of the late former President of the Senate, Dr. Joseph Wayas, at their Asokoro, Abuja residence.
During the visit, Governor Otu said he was there to join other Nigerians to mourn the death of the late colourful politician who brought a lot of glamour to bear on parliamentary proceedings as the President of the Senate during Nigeria’s Second Republic.
Governor Otu, who said the death of Wayas, revered by his contemporaries for uncommon political savvy and sense of organisational strategy, calls for sober reflection and internalisation, also noted that his visit was to identify with the grieving family and reiterate his support as the build-up to his final burial gets underway.
Prince Otu was received during the visit by the wife of the deceased Senator, Mrs Ishaka Wayas, and the Convener of Who Is Who In Northern Cross River who is also credited with galvanising the initiative that culminated in bringing the remains of Wayas back to Nigeria to commence a befitting burial process, Dr. Don Cklaimz Enamhe.
Speaking on behalf of the family and the Cross River North Forum, Enamhe, who referred to Governor Otu in glowing epithets such as “Sweet Prince”, acknowledged the support of the Governor in facilitating the eventual repatriation of the body of the late politician, describing the Governor’s contributions in that regard as “pillar behind the success”.
Speaking further, an elated Don Cklaimz noted that the arrival of the late Joseph Wayas’ body bears an emotional situation of both sweet and bitter, maintaining that the “sweetness tasks all of us on listening, pro-activeness, self-internalisation, action, and performance”.
Don Cklaimz recalled that “the Governor was worried about the continued delay in getting the remains of Joe Wayas back to Nigeria for a befitting burial which he well deserves and earned by his pedigree and travelogue as a living legend”, and the Governor has ensured that this gets done.
“Bringing home the dead body of the political icon was considered by many as an impossibility and that all efforts in that regard would be futile. However, with the Governor and his listening ears, and his nature of matching words with action, we have got to where we are today, and the prospects of a proper burial of our leader and hero are now bright and certain,” Cklaimz added.
Governor Otu marked his visit by signing the condolence register and praying with the family and urged them to be strong and return all glory to God.
Also present during the visit were Barrister Fidelis Ugbo, Cate Agba-Ajibike, Dr. Godwin Agaga, Hyacinth Iwambe, Stella Odey Ekpo, and Cletus Obun.
