Dr. Joseph Wayas (4th senate president 1979-1983).
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Fct, Abuja: National Library of Nigeria, Headquarters,
Abstract
Portrait of Dr. Joseph Wayas (4th Senate President 1979-1983).
Description
This is the Portrait of Dr. Joseph Wayas (4th Senate President 1979-1983).
On May 21, 1941, Wayas was born in Basang, Obudu, Obanliku LGA of Cross River state. He attended the Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha. Wayas became a commissioner for transport in the old south-eastern state from 1972 to 1974. He later became a member of the constituent assembly from 1977 to 1978. After former military president Olusegun Obasanjo ended the military reign, Wayas was elected as a senator under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and appointed senate president between 1979 and 1983 after he defeated Franklin Oritsemuyiwa Atake of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). He was re-elected as the senate president in 1983, but the tenure was short-lived.
Wayas is known as the first Nigerian senate president to act as president of Nigeria. In 1983, then President Shehu Shagari and Alex Ekwueme, the vice-president, had travelled outside the country and Wayas piloted the affairs of the nation for sixteen days.