AT NASS,WE SHALL ENSURE MAJOR INVESTMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY-TEEL DASHE STEPHEN, PLATEAU SOUTH SENATORIAL HOPEFUL

The NewsGate Magazine team led by its Editor had a  media chat with Mr Teel Dashe Stephen, one of the Plateau South Senatorial hopeful. He spoke on the COVID-19 Pandemic, eulogized the efforts of the Plateau State Government in stopping the virus from getting into the State and proffering economic solutions for a quick recovery as well as the leadership qualities he has to provide the desired improved standards of living for his people if given the opportunity to serve in the  National Assembly. 
The interview is unputdownable and very explosive. Enjoy the Excerpts:

NewsGate Magazine: For the purpose of our readers may we know you?

Mr.Teel Dashe Stephen. I am Mr. Teel Dashe Stephen by name born to the family of late Teel, April 1964, my Primary School was Transfer RCM School, Kwaling in Dokan Kasuwa District of Qua'an Pan LGA, later I proceeded to Government Secoundry School Shandam,from 1979 to 1984 after which I went to the School of Preliminary Studies(SPS), Keffi from 1985 to 1987 then I got admission to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1987 to 1990 and attended the NYSC from 1990 to 1991 at Government Secoundary School Lapai,Niger State. After that I got employed at the Plateau State Board of Internal Revenue from December 1991 to July 1997, when I left the State Service to join the Local Government as the Senior Internal Auditor. I went to the Nigerian College of Accountancy to do a professional study from 1997 to 1999 and went back to Ahmadu Bello University(ABU), Zaria to do my Post Graduate Studies, which was Masters in Business Administration, majoring in Finanace and Accounting from 2000 to 2002, since then I've been in the employment of the Local Government up to the time when my people called me to contest for the seat of the National Assembly, that's the Senate, representing the Southern Zone in 2018.

 Having gone into the contest, towards the primaries His Excellency, the Governor of Plateau State,Rt Hon Barr Dr Simon Bako Lalong,pleaded with me to step down for the former Deputy Governor of the State, in the person of Late Senator Ambassador Ignatius Longjan whose sad demise occurred in February 2020.

NewsGate Magazine: Sir, what is your comment on the effort put in place by the Lalong Administration to fight the Covid 19 problems in the State?

Mr.Teel Dashe Stephen: His Excellency has done a marvelous job, from the emergence of the disease, where he immediately put in place measures to reduce the pandemic in the State. That is why up till now Plateau state enjoys the good effort of His Excellency, the Governor. Except for the unfortunate occurence that happened last week where the one person who was an example of the index case in the State.

NewsGate Magazine: Of the numbers of persons that are contesting for the Senatorial  Primaries in Plateau South, what gives you the impression that you are the best?

Mr. Teel Dashe Stephen: During the 2018 contest in my Local Government Area and the senatorial zone, I was the first person that showed interest and until this moment the whole of the Southern Zone are calling for me to represent them, which shows their knowledge of the person they want to be represented by and I think I am the best candidate for the job.

Newsgate Magazine: Looking at the Covid 19 economic and political effects,what advice do you have as a financial manager to the government of the Federal Rebublic of Nigeria so that the economy can come back to normal?

Mr.Teel Dashe Stephen: It's quite unfortunate that the pandemic is occurring at this time. It's not been long that the country came out of a recession and then this terrible situation.  My advice and appeal to Nigeria is that we should give the government a chance as all efforts are being made to ensure that Nigerian citizens are not affected by this pandemic without repair. Like any other country of the world, it is going to affect us but our prayer is that by the time the situation is narrowed down, everyone will work and with the nations natural resources, we will try to make good use of it without wasting and misuse time, because things of this nature needs resources to fight it. We were fortunate in 2014 during the Ebola epidemic that knocked most African countries down, but the government also did well in that regard, our major problem is mismanagement which can only be solved by proper management of these resources to tackle such problems.

Newsgate Magazine: What us your call on the people of Plateau State in regards to the palliatives that the Government is trying to give out?

Mr.Teel Dashe Stephen: My call here to the citizens is to be patient and exercise restraint, to be honest and sincere. People know that in every community the people worse hit are the ones the Government is trying to hid there yearnings. So if you are a little bit ok,you should be your brother's keeper by exercising restraint and to allow those who are in dire need to get the palliatives.

Newsgate Magazine: Do you have any issue bothering you be it local, state wise or international, that you would like it addressed?

Mr.Teel Dashe Stephen: Yes, the first is the leadership issue.From time immemorial, the country lacks leadership. By going to National Assembly I would give my quota by advising the Government the appropriate measures to put in place, particularly in terms of Investments in the manufacturing sector, because that is the only place whereby the sector will he able to absorb all the unemployed youths even with the teeming population.  If we cannot curtail unemployment most of this social vices will remain the same and will be very difficult for the country to attain it's own goal in terms of development and growth.