After a long wait for the Federal Government to spearhead the State Burial ceremony of the Nigerian National Flag Designer, Pa Michael Akinkunmi is now to be buried by the family.
According to the son of the flag designer, he said that they were informed in June that the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) of the Arts Ministry was vested with organizing the official burial of the Nigerian National Flag Designer.
This week, Taiwo Michael Akinkunmi, the man who designed the Nigerian flag, will be laid to rest in his native state of Oyo.
Recall that it is now one year after his death at the age of 87. The reason for the delay was that a state funeral for him had been promised by the federal government.However, no plan has been in place. Also, Akinkunmi’s family has been spending N2,000 a day to keep the body in a morgue while they waited.
The son of the flag designer stated that they learned in June that the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) of the Arts Ministry was tasked with organizing the official burial.
Late Akinkunmi’s son claimed that the institution had not been in touch with him again after that only phone contact with him.He opined waiting further would disparage his father’s name.
Fortunately, now, the Oyo State government has stepped in to fund the burial rites for the flag designer.
Recall that it was not until Nigeria celebrated its 50th year of independence that Akinkunmi was recognised as one of 50 distinguished Nigerians.
His son says “an Oyo state politician later lobbied for him to be given a national honour and pension”.
“And in 2014 he was made an Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), one of Nigeria’s highest awards” he said.
After Akinkunmi’s death, last year, a senator sponsored a successful motion that he should be given a state burial.
The forlorn hope of a State Burial of “Mr Flag” by the Federal Government as earlier promised has now been taken over by the Oyo state government as a respite.