By Ken Stanley

The former Coordinator and Chairman, South-East Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, has advocated for love and peace between Igbo community in Gombe State and their host communities.

Agubuzu, who was recently installed as the Chancellor of Federal University of Kashere (FUK) in Gombe State, by President Bola Tinubu, made the call on Monday in Gombe while addressing Igbo community residing in Gombe State.

The text of his address, which is themed: “Love Your Neighbour as Yourself”, was officially released to newsmen in Enugu on Monday shortly after his address.

He encouraged younger Igbos, who are doing business or into academics to internalise and follow the positive footsteps of Igbo pioneers, who transverse all parts of Nigeria even before the nation’s Independence.

Agubuzu, who is the Eze Ogbunechendo of Ezema Olo Ancient Kingdom in Enugu State, said that the Igbo pioneers contributed to the positive development of the communities where they resided in the country.

He said, “The great Ndigbo of yester-years followed the above Biblical injunction of ‘Love Your Neighbour as Yourself’. They loved themselves and they loved their neighbours.

“They had a team spirit, which was second to none. They eschewed jealousy. They were silent achievers. They were not noisy, boisterous, overbearing and arrogant.

“They were strictly honest in their business which made their businesses grow by leaps and bounds. They abhorred fake and adulterated products. They loathed cheating.

“They were patient in learning from their masters who trained them as apprentices. They never stole from their masters.

“After their years of apprenticeship, their masters settled them and helped them to grow in their own businesses.”

According to him, the pioneer Igbo focused squarely on running their businesses and they did not crave to become ‘Eze Igbo’ in Diaspora knowing that it has no basis in law or in Igbo tradition.

Agubuzu, who is the Grand Patron and former Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, said that the pioneers had two investments – one in Igbo land and the other in their Diaspora business locations.

“There was no Nigerian city in the pre-Independence that Ndigbo did not establish an educational institution (school) and build living houses as they did at home and this move helped in pushing human and physical development.”

Agubuzu, who is former Ambassador of Nigeria to Zambia and United States, noted that if one loves his neighbour as himself, the neighbourhood, community, state and entire nation would be a better place.

He noted that when Nigerians imbibe the principle, there would be no extorting by law enforcement and issues of banditry would end.

“Corruption, nepotism, injustice, impunity, inordinate ambition, kidnapping and election malpractices among others will end if Nigerians love their neighbours as themselves,” he added.