Joe Wayas Jr, the first son of former Senate President, late Senator Joseph Wayas has requested the committee constituted to handle his father’s burial to give an account of the funds given to them.
The funeral committee was inaugurated in December 2021 by Gov Ben Ayade of Cross River State to plan and bury the former number three citizen of the Second Republic (1979-1983), Senator Joseph Wayas.
Former minister of justice and attorney general of the federation, Kanu Agabi is chairman of the burial Committee.
The body of the late elderstatesman has been in the morgue in London for 14 months.
Former executive secretary of the National Planning Commission, NPC, Fidelis Ugbo who resigned as a member of the funeral committee, said “I withdrew my services from the funeral committee. Its a lot odd for the first son to say he’s not in charge of his father’s burial? I don’t want to go into too many stories. Probe him to tell you what the situation surrounding the burial is. The responsibilities lie with him. He needs to open up on what the issues are on why the burial is delayed.”
In an interview on Saturday night, Wayas Jr called on members of the committee to stop spoiling his name with lies, challenging them to mention how much he collected from them.
He also challenged them to render an account and point to whatever they have expended on the funeral fund released by Gov Ayade for the burial of his late father.
Wayas Jr has decried the allegation by some members of the committee and government that he squandered the funeral fund.
Wayas drew attention to a media report by a national newspaper that the remains of the late Senator had been abandoned in a London hospital following a lack of funds to bury it.
“It is a complete lie that I asked for or that I have spent the funeral fund released by the state government. Was I in charge of the fund? How much did I collect from them ?
Let me clarify that I never accessed the fund. Why should they peddle my name, directing focus on me? I am a private person. They spent the money, not me.
“The committee should be called upon to account for that money. Let them point to what and what they have used the money for. They should tell why they have not buried Senator Wayas, 14 months after.
“Let them stop denting my name. I have had a good name bequeathed to me by my father, which I will strive hard to maintain.
“If I had my money I would have buried my late father since. But he was a national figure.”
He commended the state and federal governments for earlier support and pleaded that they should kindly not relent to lower the body.