By Patrick Obia
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has announced the Central Planning Committee members for a befitting state burial for the late Dr. Joseph Wayas, a former Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2nd republic, who died over two years, nine months ago.
At the instance and intervention of Governor Otu, working with a delegation of the ‘Who is Who forum of Northern Cross River’, convened by Chief Dr. Dornklarmz Enaheme, Senator Jarigbe Agom, Eteng Williams, and among other NASS members, the corpse Wayas was flown down to Nigeria.
In a press release made available by Governor Otu’s Chief Press Secretary, Gill Nsa, the committee was constituted during a session of the State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday. It was preceded by a one-minute silence conducted by Governor Otu.
The Central Planning Committee has 22 members and is led by the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt – Hon Dr Peter Odey, as the Chairman.
Justice Maurice Eneji Rtd, former Chief Judge of the State, is the Alternate Chairman of the Committee, while Chief Dr. Dorncklàimz Enamhe is the Secretary.
Other members of the committee are Senator Kanu Agabi SAN, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams, Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, Mr. Johnny Agim SAN, Senator Mathew Mbu Jr. Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba SAN, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Senator Florence Ita Giwa, Senator Musa Adede, Senator John Owan-Enoh, Senator Stephen Odey, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, Hon. Godwin Offiono, Hon. Peter Akpanke, Barrister (Mrs.) Zainab Bio Ibrahim and Dr. Chris Ojikpong.
The committee is to commence preparations immediately and devise a proposed date that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu will confirm.
The Central Planning Committee also has the leverage to expand to achieve its mandate.