Former Senate President Joseph Wayas: A Good Man is Gone

JOSEPH USHIGIALE BY THEFRONTLINES

Last Thursday morning, news filtered into ARISE News Channel Newroom that the former Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas was dead. My colleague, Director of News, Yemi Ajayi who sat right opposite me turned towards me and asked: O’Boy, have you heard? Is it true that Dr. Joseph Wayas is dead. I was stunned.

Why was I the first port of call to confirm the story? Although sometimes, people think I’m from either Benue, Edo or Delta states because of my surname, most of my colleagues are aware that I am from Cross River State and the same area with the late Wayas. I quickly put a call to Cross River State, Health Commissioner, Dr. Bertha Edu, who was reported to have visited him in the London hospital, she did not pick up. I dialed up the mobile number of Senior Media Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade, Christian Ita and he did not pick up.

I decided to put a call to another of our sisters living in London, Mrs. Tina Baruwa who decided to get back to me as soon as she could. About few seconds later, a press release dropped on my whatsapp announcing his passing with the governor commiserating with people and his family. With that confirmation, ARISE News Channel broke the news that Wayas had passed on in a London hospital at the age of 80.

I am not a blood relations of the Wayas’ but had very early contact with him as a teen when my father was the Chief Warden of Obudu Prisons in early ‘70s after the war. We lived in the Government Reserved Area then and I still have this fleeting memories of this man in flowing robes who was driven into our compound one evening in a big black car. It so happened that when the man alighted from the car and was received by my father right by the door and they both walked in; the car he came in virtually sank down swallowing the tyres.

I could not comprehend why the car would suddenly sink down or the tyres deflated within seconds of being parked. I ran into the room where my father was with his guest and he called me to come and meet my namesake. I shook small hands with him and ran back outside to watch the car. with the visit over, I was curious to know whether the car had malfunctioned or what actually went wrong. So as soon as Wayas came through the door, his driver started the car. Behold, the black French made Citroen rose majestically from the ground to its full splendour like a phoenix and positioned for Wayas to embark. Few seconds later, the car sped away with him.

I was to learn later as I grew up that, Wayas was then Commissioner for Works under the then Col. U. J Esuene administration and the youngest at 26. After his stewardship, Wayas went on to do other exploits, venturing into construction with his NICOGEN Company that was instrumental in building majority of Nigeria Army’s barracks nationwide.

The world was at his feet and many were literally eating from Wayas’ palm. He was rich, well spoken, young and flamboyant and well connected. To underscore Wayas’ huge financial war chest, in 1977/78 during the return to civil rule, he was very instrumental in bankrolling the National Party of Nigeria (NPN); a contribution which placed him in pole spot to emerge as the second republic Senate President in 1979. However, four years on, following the overthrow of the President Shehu Shagari government with most of his colleague arrested and incarcerated by the General Muhammadu Buhari regime, Wayas sneaked out of the country and was in exile for a considerable time before returning to Nigeria in 1999.

I did not meet Wayas while he was in office, but those who did, have nothing to regret to this day. It is to his credit that majority of those who constitute who is who from the Cross River state and especially old Ogoja province owe a huge debt of gratitude to the greatest ambassador to ever emerge from Obanliku. He invested huge resources into human capital development awarding scholarships to people to study both at home and abroad. Wayas was selfless, generous, detribalised. A great mixer who worked as hard as he played. To him, it seemed he lived for each day that he saw himself alive.

Our paths crossed again sometimes in 2003 or so when I did a piece chronicling political dynasties and their heir apparent. He asked my late cousin, Francis Igbolo who was his PA then to invite me over to Abuja. I honoured the invitation with trepidation. On the day I arrived, he received me warmly in his office then located in the NNPC office complex. We exchanged pleasantries and then he asked that they should check me into an hotel to rest and then come to his home for dinner at 6pm.

His driver picked me up and we were right on time. After dinner, he took me down memory lane dwelling on his friendhsip with my father. He explained that back in the days, there was hardly anyone going abroad from Ogoja province who did not pass through my father’s abode in Obalende. He also informed me that his mother hailed from Akorshie just one village from mine in Kakwalaka and that he has fond memories of Bendi clan as his roots.

Then the lecture began: he asked me if I knew the power of the pen and its capacity to make and mar? He reminded me that as a young man I did not realise the powerful position I occupied to bring about positive change in society. At this point, my eyes were welling up with tears. He consoled me and said he did not invite me to pass a guilty verdict but to guide me on how I could constructively ply my trade. He said he has been following my progress and predicted that I had a great future ahead of me. I just broke down and wept.

The meeting ended abruptly seeing that I was now inconsolable, he asked his driver to take me back to my hotel and provide me whatever I needed. The next day, his driver picked me up to his office where I announced that I was on my way back to Lagos. He now pulled out a thick envelope and thrusted it to me and I turned it down. I told him I already had a return ticket and did not need anything. He told me it was bad habit that borders on disrespect to turn down a gift from an elder and uncle. I collected it, thanked him and flew back to Lagos.

I lost touch with him when my cousin, who used to be our go between passed on. The next time I was to pen something about him was during the THISDAY Awards where he was to be nominated by the Board of Editors. It turned out he was already very ill and had been flown abroad by his family for treatment. Last Thursday, there was the final curtain call for a man who loomed larger than life.

Wayas lived his life to the fullest, he was not someone who had pretentions. He was a bridge builder and spoke almost all of Nigeria’s major langauages and had friends from across the major divides in this country. He was an astute politician who believed in the power of compromise in politics. He demonstrated that with the manner he skilfully conducted the second republic senate harmonioulsy without rancour.

Were there things Wayas would have done better? Yes, while he must be credited with his massive human capital development and construction of the Obudu – Ikom with a spur to Obudu Cattle Ranch, establishment of federal government college, Obudu etc, many blame him for not pushing for the creation of Ogoja state. The people of northern Cross River state believe that Ogoja which is the only old province yet to be made a state deserves one and Wayas did not use his clout to make it happen.

There is also the controversial export refinery that was supposed to be established in the state but was lost to Port Harcourt.
As Wayas goes home in the blaze of glory, he would be remembered for lifting tonnes of Cross Riverians out of poverty and also placed the state on the global pedestal. Adieu to a man of panache.