The family of the designer of Nigeria’s flag, Late Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi has declared that governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has released funds for the burial of their patriarch.
The family made this declaration via a statement made available to journalists on Friday.
Recall that Akinkunmi, a native of Abeokuta in Ogun state but lived in Ibadan in Oyo state died on 29th August 2023.
His design was selected as the best in the year 1958 amongst all the presented designs for the competition to get a new national flag design for the country (Nigeria) that was about to get her independence from the Colonial masters.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, led a delegation of the Federal Government to visit the family of Late Pa Akinkunmi in Ibadan and promised that Nigerian government would stand by the family.
Oyo State Government led by Engineer Seyi Makinde also sent their condolence letter from the office of the Executive Governor.
Our correspondent however gathered that the deceased has not been buried as at the time of filing this report due to the inability of the federal and state governments to fulfill their promise.
However, Oyo state government led by Makinde has fulfilled its promise by releasing funds for the burial of Pa Akinkunmi.
Spokesman for the family, Mr. Samuel Akinkunmi in the statement made available to journalists, commended the governor for the gesture.
He maintained that the final burial would take place in the next few days.
“This is to notify the general public that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has released funds for the burial of our patriarch.
“He died in August last year and he has not been buried as at today. The reasons are not far fetch. The federal government sent a representative led by the Minister for Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris. He promised us that the federal government will sponsor the burial. Also, Oyo state government pledged to support the burial.
“At a time when we fixed dates, we approached them and 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 Seyi Makinde has fulfilled his promise. We wish to thank him, members of the 7th assembly, members of Oyo 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 Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu challenging the Nigerian government and the Oyo state government for the neglect. Although the Presidency is yet to fulfil it’s promise at the time of this correspondence.
“We also want to thank the media. We thank members of the fourth estate of the realm for giving us a voice in their respective media platforms.
“I wish to thank everyone on behalf of the family. I am also using this medium to inform the general public that the date for the burial will be announced soon.