The Yoruba World Congress Worldwide (YWC) has forwarded a petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu concerning what it perceives as a delay in the burial arrangements for the late Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, the esteemed designer of the Nigerian flag.
In an open letter directed to Tinubu, the group urged the president to intervene swiftly to ensure the timely burial of the deceased.
The letter, made public and obtained by DAILY POST on Sunday, bears the signature of YWC Vice President, Engineer Adekunle Ogundana.
Recalling the passing of Akinkunmi on August 21, 2023, a native of Abeokuta in Ogun State who resided in Ibadan, Oyo State, the group expressed concern over the prolonged delay in his interment, despite assurances from the Federal and Oyo state governments.
Akinkunmi’s iconic design was selected as the winning entry in 1958 during a competition to create a national flag for Nigeria, just before the country gained independence from colonial rule.
The YWC highlighted the family’s plight, noting that they have been shouldering the daily mortuary expenses of N2,000.00 without governmental assistance.
Furthermore, the group underscored the Senate’s resolution urging the Federal Government to immortalize Akinkunmi, emphasizing the importance of honoring his legacy.
Despite the family’s efforts to arrange the burial, bureaucratic hurdles and delays have persisted, leaving the family in distress.
The YWC implored Tinubu, as a prominent leader, to intervene urgently in the matter, emphasizing the significance of granting the deceased a dignified farewell.
The Yoruba World Congress (YWC), a socio-cultural organization representing Yoruba interests globally, reiterated its commitment to advocating for the welfare and preservation of Yoruba culture and heritage.
The group said that information made available by the family confirmed that the family of the deceased have been paying N2,000.00 (Two Thousand Naira Only) daily as mortuary bill till-date without any support from the government.
The group called on Tinubu to urgently look into this matter so that the family can bury their dead and be pacified.
“This open letter is for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to personally look into this issue as a matter of urgency. The designer of the flag of Nigeria Late Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (OFR) (Mr Flag Man) died on August 21, 2023, and his body was deposited in a morgue at a location in Ibadan, Oyo State. 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.
“It was also gathered that the Senate has asked the Federal Government to immortalize the designer of the Nigerian national flag, the late Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi. The resolution of the Red Chamber was sequel to a motion sponsored via Point of Order on a matter of national importance in one of the house plenary session by Senator Sharafadeen Alli (APC, Oyo South) and seconded by Senator Sadiq Umar (APC, Kwara North), who noted that the late Pa Akinkunmi should be immortalised with a national honour. The Senate President Godswill Akpabio in his remarks, directed members of the upper legislative chamber to observe one minute silence in honour of the designer of the national flag, late Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi.
“The deceased family had planned the burial for December 7 and 8, 2023, but it was annulled by the Oyo State Government on the ground that there was no representation from the government to confirm the date chosen by the family. It was also confirmed by the family spokesperson, that a meeting was held on November 29, 2023, by the Oyo State House of Assembly with the family representatives of the late Pa Akinkunmi. It was concluded that the Oyo State Government (which has been inconclusive) would communicate a suitable date for the late icon’s burial to the family through a committee setup by the government.
“Since his death on August 21, 2023, the family has made it known that they have been paying N2,000.00 (two thousand Naira only) daily as mortuary bill till-date without any support from the government. After several attempts by the Akinkunmi family representatives to get the burial done, the Oyo State government representatives further confirmed that Late Pa Akinkunmi’s burial is a state burial and that the government will take charge of the entire programme. It was gathered that the Oyo State government requested another date for the late icon’s burial, to which the family of the deceased sent April 10, 11 and 12, 2024 for the state burial of their late father and national icon, but this date has also lapsed; as all attempts to get to the governor or his representatives were futile.
“By this open letter, the Yoruba World Congress (YWC), UK, is calling on the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to urgently look into this matter so that the family can bury their dead and be pacified. Yoruba World Congress (YWC) is a socio-cultural organisation of Yoruba descent worldwide with the responsibility to promote, defend and achieve the collective growth and developmental aspirations and interests, prosperity, security, wellbeing, welfare and sustenance of Yoruba people and culture”.
