The announcement came from the family of the designer of Nigeria’s flag, the late Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, stating that on Friday, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had authorized the release of funds for their patriarch’s burial.
It is reported that Akinkunmi’s flag design was chosen as the best in 1958 among all submissions in a competition for a new national flag design for Nigeria.
Akinkunmi, originally from Abeokuta in Ogun State, resided in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, until his passing on August 29, 2023.
In a statement by the family’s spokesperson, Samuel Akinkunmi in Ibadan, it was mentioned, “This is to inform the public that Governor Makinde has released funds for the burial of our patriarch.”
“He passed away in August last year and has not been laid to rest until now. The delays are due to various reasons. A representative from the Federal Government, led by the Minister for Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, assured us of government support for the burial. The state government also pledged assistance,” the statement continued.
“When we tried to set dates, they were unresponsive. Initially, we intended to proceed with the burial, but they advised against it. Thankfully, Governor Makinde has now honored his commitment. Our gratitude goes out to him, the members of the 7th Assembly, the state Advisory Council, and everyone who advocated for this cause,” Akinkunmi expressed.
“We would also like to acknowledge the support from Yoruba World Congress UK. They penned an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, questioning the negligence of the Nigerian and state governments. While the Presidency is yet to fulfill its promise as of now,” Akinkunmi emphasized.