A former intelligence analyst with the Department of State Services (DSS) and America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Osemeka Jim-Oscar Segun Ikemefuna, has called for the appointment of individuals with proven capacity to help the country overcome security challenges.

Ikemefuna, also urged President Bola Tinubu to jettison the culture of selecting party members without experience to manage security.

Speaking with The Guardian in Abuja, after the International Leadership Manpower and Management Development of the United Kingdom conferred him with the award of a distinguished fellow and honorary doctorate in leadership and public administration, he pointed out that the insecurity bedeviling the nation can be handled through strategic leadership and proactive measures.

He warned that citizens must not be driven to a point where they take to criminality to survive.

He said: “The President and his cabinet must look at how to select people, not from their political party, but people who are making contributions at the state, national and international levels, to drive the Renewed Hope agenda. What government needs to do is to be proactive with the situation. You don’t wait for people to be very hungry and then form criminal gangs and go into kidnapping.”

He said: “Take care of hunger in the society, take care of ignorance among the people, give people knowledge in churches, in mosques and families. We should teach our young people values through proper education. We should teach them values; to see that life is not about having so much money but about making an impact.”

The expert noted that the honour was bestowed on him because of his passion to serve humanity and make life better for people.

Ikemefuna is reputed for contributions in saving kidnap victims from terrorists through actionable intelligence, especially the celebrated case of the rescue of an American citizen kidnapped in Niger Republic and brought to Sokoto State.