Tom Zaneni, Abuja
The Oyo State Government has released funds for the funeral activities of the designer of Nigeria’s flag, late Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi.
The release of the funds is in fulfillment of the promise made by the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, during his condolence visit to the family after the flag-designer passed away.
The spokesperson for the family, Samuel Akinkunmi, made this known in a statement he made available to journalists on Friday.
Pa Akinkunmi died on August 29, 2023. He was a native of Abeokuta in Ogun State but lived in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
His design was selected as the best in 1958 amongst all the designs submitted in a competition to get a new national flag for Nigeria prior to the country’s independence in 1960.
The family’s spokesperson thanked the governor for making the funds available, saying the final burial rites of their patriarch would take place in the next few days.
The statement reads, “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.”
