Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde has allocated funds for the burial of Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, the esteemed designer of Nigeria’s national flag. The family of the late Akinkunmi announced this development in a statement signed by family spokesman Mr. Samuel Akinkunmi.
Pa Akinkunmi, originally from Abeokuta, Ogun State, resided in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he passed away on August 29, 2023.
His flag design, chosen in 1958 from numerous entries, became the national flag of Nigeria.
It would be recalled that Pa Akinkunmi died on August 21,2023, and his remains are yet to be buried due to the promise made by the Federal Government to give him a befitting burial.
The federal government, represented by Minister of Information and National Orientation Muhammad Idris, had previously assured the Akinkunmi family of support but nothing has been done on the part of the federal government to support the burial.
The action of the Oyo State governor, engineer Seyi Makinde complements previous support from the Oyo State Governor’s Advisory Council, the Oyo State 7th Assembly led by Rt (Hon) Debo Ogundoyin, and the Yoruba World Congress in the United Kingdom.
While speaking further on reason for the delayed to bury the national icon, the family’s spokesman, Samuel Akinkunmi in Ibadan, said
“He died in August last year and he has not been buried as of today. The reasons are not far-fetched. The Federal Government sent a representative led by the Minister for Information and National Orientation, Idris Muhammad. He promised us that the government would sponsor the burial. Also, the state government pledged to support the burial.
“At a time when we fixed dates, we approached the Federal government but they were not forthcoming. We decided to bury him on our own and they said we should not do that at the time. But to God be the glory, governor Makinde has fulfilled his promise. We wish to thank him, members of the 7th Assembly, members of the state Advisory Council and everyone who took the matter up.
“We also want to thank Yoruba World Congress UK for their support. They wrote an open letter to President Bola Tinubu challenging the Nigerian government and the state government for their neglect. Although, the Presidency is yet to fulfill its promise at the time of this correspondence,” Akinkunmi stated.
