A community leader and elder-stateman, Dr David Atte has raised the alarm over his invitation by the Department of State Services, DSS, into their Lokoja office, urging his fellow Okun stakeholders in Kogi West, to accompany him in honouring the invitation. because “the nation is not as it used to be.”
Atte, a former Commissioner for Education in the old Kwara State confirmed the invitation scheduled for 10 am on Tuesday, 7th December in a social media message shared on some whatsApp platforms. He suspected the invitation may be related to his comments over deteriorating insecurity in Okun land and the recent visit by controversial Muslim Cleric, Sheik Ahmed Gumi.
The environmentalist and former Governorship hopeful had objected to Gumi’s unsolicited tour, during which he carried out free medical services for foreign Fulani, who have invaded the entire Okunland. He said going by the experiences of people in other states like Benue, Plateau and Kaduna, their mission portends grave foreboding for the region.
“I have been invited to the DSS State office in Lokoja slated for Tuesday, 7th December 2021 at 10am
“The DSS has not formally accused or charged me for anything. The issue of my statements about GUMI’S visit to Okunland and our insistence that we need to rise and defend ourselves, came from the grapevine.
He emphasised: “Since I have not been charged or accused, please let us keep calm and hear what they say. Since I have not spoken for myself but for Okun People, under the direct authority of the Okun Development Association, I will be grateful to be accompanied by some Okun People so that I will not be the only one reporting on what I hear or say.
“I know I have done NOTHING personally all my life, to warrant being invited for a chat by the security agencies. It has to concern what Okun People say about their safety and welfare, WHICH I ECHO. Okun People have lived peacefully with Fulanis for generations. In the last six years, an influx of foreign Fulani into Okunland has taken place with disastrous consequences for our People.
The Septuagenarian Okun activist and international consultant lamented over the fate of several Okun people who have been killed, kidnapped or whose farms have been destroyed by the invaders while security agencies turn the other way.
“On top of all these, SHEIKH GUMI CAME on a solidarity visit to the Fulani people in Okunland who are illegal occupiers of our land. He did not visit our key Traditional Rulers. Who can do that in the North? It was a slap on our face and a declaration that they can do what they want on our land.
