Akpabio disclosed this on Thursday when he received a delegation of leaders from Cross River State, led by former Justice Minister, Chief Kanu Agabi who paid him a courtesy visit to formally invite the 10th Senate to be part of the burial.
Abuja (Core Reporters) The president of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio has hinted that the 10th senate they have planed to hold a valedictory session for the late senate president Joseph Wayas on November 28, 2024 and thereafter, proceed to Calabar for the Night of Tributes.
Akpabio disclosed this on Thursday when he received a delegation of leaders from Cross River State, led by former Justice Minister, Chief Kanu Agabi who paid him a courtesy visit to formally invite the 10th Senate to be part of the burial.
Recall that the former senate president Joseph Wayas died on 30 November, 2021, three years after he is yet to be buried.
But, the senate president, has assured that the senate under him and indeed the national assembly under his leadership will participate fully in the burial.
Akpabio said, “will be very delighted, as the 10th Senate, to be part of it. We have planned to be part of it. Infact, we plan to hold a valedictory session for him on the 28th of November, 2024 and thereafter, we will follow you to Calabar for the Night of Tributes.
“We will want to take part fully in the ceremonies. Your coming is almost like an icing on the cake. It’s like showing respect to the institution of the National Assembly. We don’t take that for granted.
Akpabio emphasized that the Senate would be “part and parcel of all the ceremonies” describing it as “a celebration of life.”
“Even if you did not come, we will still have come to you, but your coming has further added impetus because when you are invited to a function, your legs are strengthened.
“We are going to do everything possible to collaborate and work with you to own this event,” Akpabio said.
He described Wayas, who was the first Senate President of Nigeria’s South-South extraction, as a trail blazer, a man of style, candour and charismatic Senate President.
Earlier, Chief Kanu Agabi, who led the delegation appealed to the Federal Government to take over the burial of Wayas.
“Let the government bury Joseph Wayas. The state government has been struggling with it. Let the Federal Government step in. That is why we are here,” Agabi said.
The former Attorney-General of the Federation said, because of the delay in burying Joseph Wayas who died on 30 November, 2021, it looked to some people as if he had died several times.
Agabi said those who are familiar with history would know how long it took great men like Jamaican artist Marcus Garvey, former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mobutu Sese Seko and even Joseph in the bible to be buried.
“It has taken some time with Wayas and it is beginning to look as if it’s embarrassing. It is the way of great men,” Agabi said.
