Joseph Wayas

Joseph Wayas was a Nigerian politician who served as the third Senate President of Nigeria during the Second Republic (1979-1983). He was born in Basang, Obudu, Cross River State on May 21, 1941 and attended the Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha. He went to the United Kingdom where he studied at the Higher Tottenham Technical College, London, the West Bromwich College of Commerce, Science and Technology, Birmingham and Aston University, Birmingham. He worked as a manager or controller for several companies in Nigeria and the United Kingdom from 1960 to 1969. He joined the Federal Government in 1969 and served as the commissioner for Transport, South-Eastern State from 1972 to 1974. He was a member of the constituent Assembly in 1977-78. He was elected to the Senate on the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) platform and appointed Senate President in 1979. He had an excellent relationship with president Shehu Shagari, ensuring that bills were generally discussed and agreed before being introduced. He also played a prominent role in Nigeria's foreign policy, visiting several countries and hosting dignitaries. He was the first Senate president to act as president of Nigeria in 1983, when both Shagari and his vice, Alex Ekwueme, were outside the country. He 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 for a year. He later joined the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and remained active in politics until his death. He died in a London hospital on November 30, 2021, after a protracted illness. He was 80 years old.