……calls for immortalising of Pa Akinkunmi
As a mean of commitment to advancing national trust, deemphasize ethno-religious, tribal and partisan gaps, as well as encourage Nigerians to take seriously the ownership of their country. Flag Foundation of Nigeria, FFN, has called on patriotic Nigerians across the globe to hoist the country’s Green-White-Green flag wherever they are.
Speaking recently in Abuja during a Media Parley on the Nigeria National Flag Day and the flag-off of the National Flag Awareness Campaign, DG of the Foundation, Chris Agiri, also advocated for the immortalising of the late designer of the flag, Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkumi.
Agiri said so far, the NGO has distributed over 10 million flags in the last few years.
“We are elated to be the heralders of a new epoch in our nation’s history and to continue in the faith and hope of what we recognise to be the true hallmark of any truly great nation; the patriotic devotion of its citizens.
“As has been our tradition overt the past decades, we are excited to take on the crucial task of rebuilding love and confidence in the possibility of making Nigeria the country of limitless opportunities and a place where every idea is valid and initiatives can find their true berth.
“The symbol of all that is great, powerful and inspiring in this regard is the GREEN WHITE GREEN FLAG
“It’s a known and incontestable fact that every sovereign nation on earth possesses a national flag. It is the flag that embodies the totality of that nation’s ideals, hopes and aspirations, it highlights the national philosophy and foundational principles and represents its distinctiveness amongst the comity of nations. Essentially, a national flag for all intents and purpose symbolizes the glory, honour and dignity of a country and is its most powerful icon and identity.
“In all developed climes of the world and indeed every nation intent on achieving greatness, the citizens all understand that their national flag is their identity and as such, they know how to hold their flag to such awe-inspiring height so much so that an average American would readily lay down his or her life, rather than see their national flag fall to dishonour and disrepute.
“It is this rationale that has birthed the National Flag Awareness Program. The Program has been initiated to effectively inspire HOPE AND REJUVATE citizen’s commitment and confidence in the Nigerian state.
“Considering that the Nigerian state is itself embroiled in a litany of socioeconomic challenges, it is easy to see how and why most Nigerian do not exhibit such allegiance to country nor devote themselves to reverencing the Nigerian flag. Their aversion to such patriotic tendencies stems largely from the disaffection that permeates the social, economic political and cultural rubrics of the Nigerian state. There is, however, an emergent need to address this anomaly and get Nigerians to love Nigeria again and express it in their daily civic duties and commitment to rebuilding this nation.
“To begin, it is incumbent on government and its relevant institutions to chart a new course for reigniting patriotism and love for nation.
“All institutions of state must take the first step to reinvent the wheel of national progress and a shared commitment to make Nigeria work. It is imperative that Nigerians understand that the (Green and White) Nigeria National Flag is our nation’s MOST DISTINCTIVE ICON and most powerful identity that is owned and shared by all Nigerians.
“Nigerians must realise that when we raise the flag, we raise our collective identity and shared heritage above the narrowing prisms of tribe, religion, language, ethnicity, culture and traditions, and it a stark reminder that in the eyes of the world, we are all first and foremost Nigerians.
“Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, with all due sense of humility and patriotism, I would love to request us all to stand up for a minute silence in honour of the designer of the Nigerian Flag, who passed on to glory few weeks ago, Pa Akinkumi, and to all others who paid the supreme price in the cause of serving Nigeria to keep this flag flying especially the armed forces men and women who stood in defence of the National Flag.
“May the Lord rest their souls in perfect peace, amen.
“Pa Akinkumi, whom we have just honoured, was a recipient of our gesture. It is the FFN that rehabilitated him when he was almost forgotten, popularized his condition, and consequently he was honoured by the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration
“We want to further request the Federal Government to immortalize his name.
“The FFN also wants to remind Nigerians that we have been in this advocacy for 18 unbroken years. In these years, we have given out millions of flags to schools, civil servants and religious institutions in our attempt to raise the consciousness of Nigerians towards the need to honour the flag, as well as other national assets and relics.
“Today, the FFN in line with our mandate as an NGO is the voice of flag education in our schools within the country. It is with absolute humility that we can report that this organization is proud to announce that we are patriotic, unflinching in our dedication to the country, and as such we want to encourage all Nigerians to embrace the culture of respecting the flag by keeping it clean, changing it when it is worn out in accordance with global best practice on national flag usage and protocol.
“In the same vein, we are encouraging Nigerians to adopt the practice of standing at attention whenever the national anthem and pledge in being recited, with their right arms on their chests.
Little efforts like this will go a long way towards lifting up the country, at least in PR, before the international community”.
The NGO also called on federal and state institutions to ensure that they hoist a clean and straightened out flag of Nigeria on their buildings and facilities.
“It is beyond embarrassing to see the symbol of our country, as represented in the flag, in a tattered form. When such happens, it reflects the disdain with which such establishments view and treat the country.
“We are therefore pleading with such institutions to have respect for the country’s flag and eschew any act that would suggest any contemptuous behaviour on their part against the country
