The President of the Nigerian Senate, Ahmed Lawan has described the 14 months abandonment of the corpse of the former President of the Senate of the Second Republic, Joseph Wayas, as shameful.
Lawan on Tuesday, at the floor of the Red Chamber condemned the continuous abandonment of the remains of the former Senate President, a year and two months after he died in a London hospital.
The Senate President, further explained that the delay in the burial of the former Senate President, 14 months after his death, was embarrassing to National Assembly, and the Federal Government.
“This is not a good commentary on us as a country. Unfortunately, to stop this type of embarrassment, an attempt made last year for Presiding officers of the National Assembly to be given medical support for life by Nigeria was rejected by us during voting on constitution amendments.
“The embarrassment at hand with the Joseph Wayas remains, calls for reflection and I hope the 10th Assembly will do the needful.”
Senator Joseph Wayas was the Senate President during the late Shehu Shagari government in the Second Republic.
He died since November 20, 2021 after he was hospitalised at the London hospital. His corpse was deposited at the morgue of the hospital in far away London.
Earlier, one of the senators from Cross River State, Senator Gershom Bassey, in a motion he raised at the floor of the Senate, described the 14 months abandonment and the delay in the burial of the former Senate President, as embarrassing to the Senate and the Federal Government.
Bassey urged the Federal government as a matter of urgency, to evacuate the remains of the deceased from the London hospital mortuary for a befitting burial in Nigeria, just as he also called for his immortalisation.
He suggested that the Senate should take over the burial plans of the deceased to save the country from further embarrassment.
“It is very worrisome and embarrassing that 14 months after the death of the former Senate President, his remains still lie in the morgue in the UK.” He stated.
Many other senators condemned the sad development and urged the Senate to collaborate with relevant authorities to address the issue.
Senators who spoke on the issue are Jibrin Barau ( APC Kano North ), Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi ( APC Niger North), Uche Ekwunife ( PDP Anambra Central) and Enyinnaya Abaribe ( APGA Abia South).