NIGERIA, people say, does not celebrate its patriots and individuals who had gone the extra mile to display their patriotism towards the country, until they die.

This saying could not be totally untrue as there are examples of Nigerian patriots who were not celebrated during their life time, but after their demise.

Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, is yet another man who Nigerian government is not celebrating and appreciating for his rare intellectual work that had brought honour and respect to the country. He designed the Green-White-Green Nigeria’s flag at 24 years. His work, Nigerian government is proud of, both locally and internationally. Yet the owner of the work is left to live like a serf in the same country.

His design beat other 2,818 design entries. The man did not only design the flag, but goes around with the colour, propagating the gospel of the glory and honour of the country, thereby making green and white clothes his uniform. Taking his love for Nigeria’s colours further, he painted his house green white green. The colour has faded off, due to financial constraints and up till date, he could not re-paint it.

However, a visit to Akinkunmi’s house in remote area of Ibadan, called Molade, painted a picture that the name of the man is not in any file with the Federal Government, among other arms of government in spite of the series of write-ups on the 78-year-old man and the discouraging attitude of Nigerian government towards appreciating him. Hence he cannot be acknowledged or recognised for any national award.

The state of the road leading to his house is quite pathetic. The bike man who took Wakabout to his house charged exorbitantly, claiming that the road to Akinkunmi’s house could damage his bike’s tyres. Wakabout had to take pain-relieving drugs after visiting the man due to the stress he went through. Even, if the road leading to Akinkunmi’s house was good, he does not have a car.

To go out to town, the 78-year-old patriot said: “I have to walk a distance of two kilometres to get to the main road, where I could get transportation to my destination.”

As if the neglect of the Nigerian government was not enough, some alleged unscrupulous Nigerians tried to auction his house illegally. If not for divine intervention, probably he would have been robbed of his house, since he does not have enough money to pursue the case in court.

According to him, all he could account for as the reward for the design was the cash price of 100 Pounds he was given in 1958.

In spite of the neglect and unappreciated stance of Nigeria’s government, Pa Akinkunmi’s patriotism for the nation remains unflinching as he said: “This is my country. I’m proud of my country and its colours.”

Suffice it to say that Pa Akinkunmi’s intellectual work has been a pride to the nation, hence he is due for special attention at any national programme and wherever Nigeria’s flag is hoisted. This is necessary to encourage the man and others, whose works had been a plus to the image of the country.