Joseph Wayas
Encyclopedia
Joseph Wayas was Nigeria
's third Senate President during the Nigerian Second Republic
(1979 - 1983).
, Cross River State
on 21 May 1941 and attended the Dennis Memorial Grammer School, Onitsha
. He went to the United Kingdom where he studied at the Higher Tottenham Technical College, London, the West Bronwich College of Commerce, Science and Technology, Birmingham and Aston University
, Birmingham.
Returning to Nigeria, he worked as a manager or controller from 1960-1969 for several companies in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Wayas is a member of the Society of International Affairs at the Lincoln University, United States.
Wayas joined the Federal Government in 1969-72.
He was commissioner for Transport, South-Eastern State, now broken into Akwa Ibom and Cross River
states from 1972-74.
He was a member of the constituent Assembly in 1977-78.
(NPN) platform and appointed Senate President.
Wayas had an excellent relationship with president Shehu Shagari
, ensuring that bills were generally discussed and agreed before being introduced.
Wayas used to play tennis with the US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Thomas R. Pickering
, afterwards taking Pickering to the State House at Ribadu Road to visit with President Shagari, a breach of protocol.
Under Wayas's leadership the Senate summoned Tony Momoh
, editor of the Daily Times, for contempt. This caused a major legal battle in which Momoh successfully argued that as a journalist he was empowered by the constitution to hold government accountable at all times.
While visiting the USA in September 1981, Wayas was entertained by boxer Muhammed Ali, who threw a spectacular party in his honor. Ali had previously visited Nigeria and received red-carpet treatment.
In the lead-up to the 1983 elections, Wayas was the leader of the NPN party's "Lagos Group" that supported a change of governor in Cross River State
, in opposition to the "Home Front" led by the incumbent governor Clement Isong
.
Wayas left office along with other members of the Shagari administration when General Muhammadu Buhari
staged a coup on New Year's Eve 1983, and went into exile.
He returned in 1987 and was held in political detention, 1987-1988.
In 1998 Wayas was a founding member of the All People's Party. He later joined the People's Democratic Party
in 2001 at the urging of Cross River governor Donald Duke
.
He was a strong believer in true federalism as the only solution to Nigeria's democratic problems, which had been manifested in the Nigerian Civil War
.
In October 2003 he spoke out against the on-going local council reforms by the Federal Government, describing them as "unconstitutional".
Wayas was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA).
In January 2009 he described post-election petitions to electoral tribunals as senseless, reckless and time wasting.
In January 2010, Wayas advocated that Vice President Goodluck Jonathan
be authorized to act as President pending the return of President Umaru Yar'Adua, who had been incapacitated by illness for some time.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
's third Senate President during the Nigerian Second Republic
Nigerian Second Republic
The Second Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 governed by the second republican constitution.- Founding :...
(1979 - 1983).
Background
Wayas was born in Basang, ObuduObudu
Obudu is a Local Government Area in Cross River State, Nigeria, a hotspot in Nigeria's tourism.The area features a tourist resort, the Obudu Cattle Ranch, which also hosts an annual race in the hilly surroundings – the Obudu Ranch International Mountain Race.The town of Obudu is downstream from the...
, Cross River State
Cross River State
Cross River State is a coastal state in southeastern Nigeria, bordering Cameroon to the east. Its capital is at Calabar, and it is named for the Cross River , which passes through the state...
on 21 May 1941 and attended the Dennis Memorial Grammer School, Onitsha
Onitsha
Onitsha is a city, a commercial, educational, and religious center and river port on the eastern bank of the Niger river in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria....
. He went to the United Kingdom where he studied at the Higher Tottenham Technical College, London, the West Bronwich College of Commerce, Science and Technology, Birmingham and Aston University
Aston University
Aston University is a "plate glass" campus university situated at Gosta Green, in the city centre of Birmingham, England.Established in 1895 as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School, Aston was granted its Royal Charter as Aston University on 22 April 1966...
, Birmingham.
Returning to Nigeria, he worked as a manager or controller from 1960-1969 for several companies in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Wayas is a member of the Society of International Affairs at the Lincoln University, United States.
Wayas joined the Federal Government in 1969-72.
He was commissioner for Transport, South-Eastern State, now broken into Akwa Ibom and Cross River
Cross River State
Cross River State is a coastal state in southeastern Nigeria, bordering Cameroon to the east. Its capital is at Calabar, and it is named for the Cross River , which passes through the state...
states from 1972-74.
He was a member of the constituent Assembly in 1977-78.
Senate President
When General Olusegun Obasanjo terminated military rule in 1979, Joseph Wayas was elected to the Senate on the National Party of NigeriaNational Party of Nigeria
The National Party of Nigeria was the dominant political party in Nigeria during the Second Republic .-Formation:The party's beginning could be traced to private and sometimes secret meetings among key Northern Nigerian leaders after the proscription of political parties in 1966 by the military...
(NPN) platform and appointed Senate President.
Wayas had an excellent relationship with president Shehu Shagari
Shehu Shagari
Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, Turakin Sakkwato served as the President of Nigeria's Second Republic , after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjo's military government....
, ensuring that bills were generally discussed and agreed before being introduced.
Wayas used to play tennis with the US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Thomas R. Pickering
Thomas R. Pickering
Thomas Reeve "Tom" Pickering , is a retired United States ambassador. Among his many diplomatic appointments, he served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 1989 to 1992.-Early life:...
, afterwards taking Pickering to the State House at Ribadu Road to visit with President Shagari, a breach of protocol.
Under Wayas's leadership the Senate summoned Tony Momoh
Tony Momoh
Prince Tony Momoh is a Nigerian journalist and politician who was Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.-Birth and education:...
, editor of the Daily Times, for contempt. This caused a major legal battle in which Momoh successfully argued that as a journalist he was empowered by the constitution to hold government accountable at all times.
While visiting the USA in September 1981, Wayas was entertained by boxer Muhammed Ali, who threw a spectacular party in his honor. Ali had previously visited Nigeria and received red-carpet treatment.
In the lead-up to the 1983 elections, Wayas was the leader of the NPN party's "Lagos Group" that supported a change of governor in Cross River State
Cross River State
Cross River State is a coastal state in southeastern Nigeria, bordering Cameroon to the east. Its capital is at Calabar, and it is named for the Cross River , which passes through the state...
, in opposition to the "Home Front" led by the incumbent governor Clement Isong
Clement Isong
Dr. Clement Nyong Isong was a Nigerian banker and politician who was Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria during the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon....
.
Wayas left office along with other members of the Shagari administration when General Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari was a military ruler of Nigeria and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections...
staged a coup on New Year's Eve 1983, and went into exile.
He returned in 1987 and was held in political detention, 1987-1988.
Later career
Wayas was a member of the 1994/1995 National Constitutional Conference.In 1998 Wayas was a founding member of the All People's Party. He later joined the People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
in 2001 at the urging of Cross River governor Donald Duke
Donald Duke
Donald Duke was the Governor of Cross River State, Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. He received LLB degree in 1982 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria - Nigeria, the B.L in 1983 from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos and the L.L.M...
.
He was a strong believer in true federalism as the only solution to Nigeria's democratic problems, which had been manifested in the Nigerian Civil War
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
.
In October 2003 he spoke out against the on-going local council reforms by the Federal Government, describing them as "unconstitutional".
Wayas was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA).
In January 2009 he described post-election petitions to electoral tribunals as senseless, reckless and time wasting.
In January 2010, Wayas advocated that Vice President Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, BNER, GCON is the 14th Head of State and current President of Nigeria.He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the...
be authorized to act as President pending the return of President Umaru Yar'Adua, who had been incapacitated by illness for some time.