The family of the designer of Nigeria’s flag, Late Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, has said Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State released funds for the burial of their patriarch.

The family made this known through a statement from their spokesperson, Samuel Akinkunmi, on Friday.

Akinkunmi, a native of Abeokuta in Ogun State, lived in Ibadan, Oyo State, until his death on August 29, 2023.

Akinkunmi’s design was chosen as the best in 1958 from among all the contestants in a competition to create a new national flag design for the country.

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 of today. The reasons are not far-fetched. The federal government sent a representative led by the Minister for Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris. He promised us that the federal government would sponsor the burial. Also, the 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 the 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 their neglect. Although the Presidency is yet to fulfil its promise at the time of this correspondence,” Akinkunmi added.