# Joseph Wayas
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{{Short description|Nigerian politician (1941–2021)}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Dr.Joseph Wayas GCON
| image = Dr. Joseph Wayas (4th Senate President 1979 - 1983).jpg
| caption =
| office1 = [President of the Senate of Nigeria](/source/President_of_the_Senate_of_Nigeria)
| term_start1 = 1 October 1979
| term_end1 = 31 December 1983
| predecessor1 = [Nwafor Orizu](/source/Nwafor_Orizu) (1966)
| successor1 = [Iyorchia Ayu](/source/Iyorchia_Ayu) (1992)
| birth_date = 21 May 1941
| birth_place = [Obanliku](/source/Obanliku), Southern Region, [British Nigeria](/source/Colonial_Nigeria)
(now [Obanliku](/source/Obanliku), [Cross River State](/source/Cross_River_State), Nigeria
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|11|30|1941|5|21|df=y}}
| death_place = London, England, UK
| party = [PDP](/source/Peoples_Democratic_Party_(Nigeria))
}}
'''Joseph Wayas GCON''' (21 May 1941 – 30 November 2021[{{cite news|url=https://www.thecable.ng/joseph-wayas-former-senate-president-is-dead|title=Joseph Wayas, former senate president, is dead|last=Akpan|first=Samuel|date=2 December 2021|access-date=11 November 2024|newspaper=[TheCable](/source/TheCable)}}]) was Nigeria's [Senate President](/source/President_of_the_Nigerian_Senate) during the [Second Nigerian Republic](/source/Second_Nigerian_Republic) (1979–1983).[{{cite news|last=Olufemi|first=Damilola|date=12 March 2023|title=Ex-Senate President Wayas not buried 14 months after death|url=https://punchng.com/ex-senate-president-wayas-not-buried-14-months-after-death/|access-date=2 February 2024|newspaper=[The Punch](/source/The_Punch)}}]
==Background==
Wayas was born in Basang, [Obanliku](/source/Obanliku), [Cross River State](/source/Cross_River_State) on 21st, May 1941 and attended the [Dennis Memorial Grammar School](/source/Dennis_Memorial_Grammar_School). 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](/source/Aston_University), Birmingham.e
Returning to Nigeria, he worked as a manager or controller from 1960-1969 for several companies in Nigeria and the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom).[{{cite web|url=http://www.profilesnigeria.info/wayas.htm|title=Senator Joseph Wayas President of the Senate Federal Republic of Nigeria (1979-1983)|publisher=Federal Ministry of Information and Communications, Nigeria|access-date=28 February 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318031450/http://www.profilesnigeria.info/wayas.htm|archive-date=18 March 2012}}]
Wayas was a member of the Society of International Affairs at the [Lincoln University, United States](/source/Lincoln_University_(California)).[{{cite news|url=http://www.newswatchngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=953&Itemid=34|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=In the News|last1=Akintunde|first1=Kazeem|last2=Binuyo|first2=Kunle|date=17 May 2009|access-date=28 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927130841/http://www.newswatchngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=953&Itemid=34|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead|newspaper=[Newswatch](/source/Newswatch_(Nigeria))}}]
He was commissioner for Transport, [South-Eastern State](/source/South-Eastern_State%2C_Nigeria), now broken into [Akwa Ibom](/source/Akwa_Ibom_State) and [Cross River](/source/Cross_River_State) states from 1972-74.[{{cite news|last=Adebulu|first=Taiwo|date=3 December 2021|title=Obituary: Joseph Wayas, second republic senate president who ruled Nigeria for 16 days|url=https://www.thecable.ng/obituary-joseph-wayas-second-republic-senate-president-who-ruled-nigeria-for-16-days/|access-date=2 September 2024|newspaper=[TheCable](/source/TheCable)}}]
He was a member of the constituent Assembly in 1977-78.[
==Senate President==
When General [Olusegun Obasanjo](/source/Olusegun_Obasanjo) terminated military rule in 1979, Joseph Wayas was elected to the Senate on the [National Party of Nigeria](/source/National_Party_of_Nigeria) (NPN) platform and appointed Senate President. He represented the northern senatorial district alongside senator [Joseph Oqua Ansa](/source/Joseph_Oqua_Ansa) who represented calabar senatorial district. Wayas had an excellent relationship with president [Shehu Shagari](/source/Shehu_Shagari), ensuring that bills were generally discussed and agreed before being introduced.][{{cite news|url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/feb/09/national-09-02-2010-24.htm|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=2011 Presidency: 'Don't rule out Yar'Adua'|last=Omipidan|first=Ismail|date=9 February 2010|access-date=28 February 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303033451/https://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/feb/09/national-09-02-2010-24.htm|archive-date=3 March 2010|newspaper=[The Sun](/source/The_Sun_(Nigeria))}}]
Wayas used to play tennis with the US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. [Thomas R. Pickering](/source/Thomas_R._Pickering), afterwards taking Pickering to the State House at Ribadu Road to visit with President Shagari, a breach of protocol.[{{cite web|url=https://www.kwenu.com/publications/hankeso/2007/public_office_confines.htm|title=Respect for public office and its confines|last=Eso|first=Hank|website=Kwenu.com|access-date=28 February 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104093735/http://www.kwenu.com/publications/hankeso/2007/public_office_confines.htm|archive-date=4 January 2010}}]
Under Wayas's leadership the Senate summoned [Tony Momoh](/source/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.[{{cite news|url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/columnists/onabule/2008/today-02-may-2008.htm|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Senator Adesanya died since 2003|last=Onabule|first=Duro|date=2 May 2008|access-date=28 February 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100226165046/http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/columnists/onabule/2008/today-02-may-2008.htm|archive-date=26 February 2010|newspaper=[The Sun](/source/The_Sun_(Nigeria))}}]
While visiting the United States in September 1981, Wayas was entertained by boxer [Muhammad Ali](/source/Muhammad_Ali), who threw a spectacular party in his honor. Ali had previously visited Nigeria and received red-carpet treatment.[{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SUIDAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22joseph+wayas%22&pg=PA12|magazine=Jet Magazine|volume=60|title=Ali Throws His Greatest Party for Nigerian Senator|page=10|date=10 September 198|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company}}]
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](/source/Cross_River_State), in opposition to the "Home Front" led by the incumbent governor [Clement Isong](/source/Clement_Isong).[{{cite book|title=Crippled giant: Nigeria since independence|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780253211972|url-access=registration|last=Osaghae|first=Eghosa E.|publisher=Indiana University Press|year=1998|isbn=0-253-21197-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780253211972/page/144 144]}}]
Wayas left office along with other members of the Shagari administration when General [Muhammadu Buhari](/source/Muhammadu_Buhari) staged a coup on New Year's Eve 1983, and went into exile.[{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2211&dat=19840324&id=ey0mAAAAIBAJ&pg=4388,1004718|work=The Afro American|title=Nigerian Exiles Plotting Invasion|date=24 March 1984|access-date=28 February 2010}}]
He returned in 1987 and was held in political detention, 1987-1988.[
==Later career==
Wayas was Deputy Chairman of the 1994/1995 National Constitutional Conference COMMISSION that organised and midwifed the National Conference itself.][{{cite news|url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/jan/12/national-01-12-2010-05.htm|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Mark, Bankole in survival battle ... Wayas urges caution, full acting powers for VP|last=Ogbuenyi|first=Nosike|date=12 January 2010|access-date=28 February 2010|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124091624/https://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/jan/12/national-01-12-2010-05.htm|newspaper=[The Sun](/source/The_Sun_(Nigeria))}}]
In 1998 Wayas was a founding member of the [All People's Party](/source/All_People's_Party_(Nigeria)). He later joined the [Peoples Democratic Party](/source/Peoples_Democratic_Party_(Nigeria)) in 2001 at the urging of Cross River governor [Donald Duke](/source/Donald_Duke).[{{cite news|date=25 November 2001|work=[This Day](/source/This_Day)|access-date=28 February 2010|url=https://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2001/11/25/20011125cov04.html|last1=Oloyede|first1=Dokun|last2=Kintum|first2=Frank|title=Revolt of the 'Spare Tyres'|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050906024929/https://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2001/11/25/20011125cov04.html|archive-date=6 September 2005}}]
He was a strong believer in true [Federalism](/source/Federalism) as the only solution to Nigeria's democratic problems, which had been manifested in the [Nigerian Civil War](/source/Nigerian_Civil_War).[{{cite book|title=Oil, democracy, and the promise of true federalism in Nigeria|last1=Ikein|first1=Augustine A.|last2=Alamieyeseigha|first2=Diepreye S. P.|last3=Azaiki|first3=Steve S.|publisher=University Press of America|year=2008|isbn=978-0-7618-3928-6|page=468}}]
In October 2003 he spoke out against the ongoing local council reforms by the Federal Government, describing them as "unconstitutional".[{{cite news|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200310130546.html|title=Local Government Reforms Unconstitutional - Wayas|work=This Day|last=Nwezeh|first=Kingsley|date=12 October 2003|access-date=28 February 2010|via=[allAfrica](/source/allAfrica)}}]
Wayas was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA).[{{cite news|url=https://news.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=9169|title=You're a confused liar, Clark lambasts Mbu|last=Ukpong|first=Ubong|date=19 October 2009|work=Daily Sun|access-date=28 February 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225041029/https://news.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=9169|archive-date=25 February 2012}}]
In January 2009 he described post-election petitions to electoral tribunals as senseless, reckless and time wasting.[{{cite web|url=https://ebiraview.net/news/?p=534|title=Wayas visits Idris, condemn election petitioners|work=Vanguard|date=23 January 2009|access-date=28 February 2010}}] The same year he was nominated for one of the two highest honours in Nigeria, the [Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)](/source/Order_of_the_Niger).[{{cite news|date=1 July 2010|title=Akhigbe, CJN, Ayefele 183 others get national honours|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/07/akhigbe-cjn-184-others-get-national-honours/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=1 April 2022|newspaper=[Vanguard](/source/Vanguard_(Nigeria))}}][{{cite news|date=30 June 2010|title=2009 Nominees for Nigeria National Honours Award|url=https://economicconfidential.com/2010/06/2009-nominees-for-nigeria-national-honours-award/|access-date=1 April 2022|work=Economic Confidential}}] In 2010 this award was bestowed on him by President Goodluck Jonathan.[{{cite web|date=2 December 2021|title=Joseph Wayas Dead: 10 Things You Should Know About Late Ex-Senate President|url=https://ejesgist.com/joseph-wayas-death-10-things-you-should-know-about-late-ex-senate-president.html|access-date=1 April 2022|website=Ejes Gist}}][{{cite news|last=Akogun|first=Akogun|date=30 June 2010|title=Wayas, Okonjo-Iweala, Sanusi, 183 Others Bag National Honours|work=This Day|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201006300327.html|access-date=1 April 2022|via=allAfrica}}]
In January 2010, Wayas advocated that Vice President [Goodluck Jonathan](/source/Goodluck_Jonathan) be authorized to act as President pending the return of President [Umaru Yar'Adua](/source/Umaru_Yar'Adua), who had been incapacitated by illness for some time.