The Yoruba World Congress Worldwide (YWC) has penned a petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing concern over the prolonged delay in laying to rest the late Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, the revered designer of the Nigerian flag.
In a direct appeal to Tinubu through an open letter, the group implored the president to step in and facilitate the burial of the deceased without any further delays.
Engineer Adekunle Ogundana, the Vice President of YWC, signed the open letter on Sunday, a copy of which was obtained by DAILY POST.
Akinkunmi, a native of Abeokuta in Ogun State but residing in Ibadan, Oyo State, passed away on August 21, 2023. Following his demise, his body was placed in a morgue in Ibadan.
In 1958, Akinkunmi’s design was selected as the winning entry in a competition to create a new national flag for Nigeria, which was on the verge of gaining independence from colonial rule.
It’s worth noting that a delegation from the Federal Government, led by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, had visited Akinkunmi’s family in Ibadan to pledge government support.
However, despite assurances from both the Federal and Oyo state governments, Akinkunmi had yet to be laid to rest at the time of this report.
Responding to the situation, YWC appealed to Tinubu to personally intervene and expedite the burial process. The group emphasized the significance of promptly honoring the deceased and pacifying his family.
The letter highlighted the Senate’s resolution urging the Federal Government to immortalize Akinkunmi with a national honour, underlining the importance of honouring his legacy.
Despite the family’s efforts to organize the burial, including proposing dates for the ceremony, bureaucratic hurdles and government involvement have led to delays.
YWC reiterated its plea for Tinubu to take immediate action, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to promoting and safeguarding Yoruba culture and interests globally.
In conclusion, the letter urged Tinubu to prioritize resolving the matter swiftly so that Akinkunmi could be laid to rest with the dignity he deserves.
