I'm depressed - Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday  had   an emergency meeting with service chiefs over the killing of  50 students of the  College of Agriculture  in Yobe State.

Jonathan  disclosed this while fielding questions during the Presidential Media Chat broadcast live on television stations. He had  earlier at the 53rd Independence Anniversary Interdenominational Church Service   at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, admitted that  activities of the sect  were depressing him and his administration.

Continues

He said after meeting with the service chiefs, he  directed them  to meet and come up with ideas  on how to step up the efforts aimed at curbing   the  attacks  and killings by the insurgents which he described as “ embarrassing.”

The President  said, “Like I said earlier today (Sunday),  sometimes one needs a lot of courage to move on. My seat as the President can be very hot and can also be very cold.

“I held a meeting with service chiefs on the killings of students in Yobe State before coming for this media chat. We discussed and resolved that we must do more.

“You will agree with me that  incidence of attacks came down after I declared state of emergency in some states but it is coming up again. I have asked the service chiefs to meet again now and see what we can do to stop these embarrassing attacks.”

When asked to respond to allegations that operatives of the State Security Service killed innocent people alleged to be members of   Boko Haram   at the Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja, the President said there was enough reason to believe that those shot were  suspected  terrorists.

Jonathan, who added that  some of those arrested had made confessional statements, said that  security agencies had even foiled several plots by insurgents  to bomb  Abuja this month.

He said, “I have been briefed about it and people have made confessional statements. That is why I say sometimes, some of these people who call for probe don’t mean well for this country. And I always say that when there are confrontations between certain operatives and criminals in a place where people live, maybe one or two people  who  may  be innocent   probably might  be affected during the exchange of fire. But definitely,  there were Boko Haram elements  among them .

Again, if you monitor global trend, there was this feeling about Al-Qeada network having links with Al-Shabab and Boko Haram because these criminal gangs have networks. And the feeling was that in September, they would bomb many cities across the world to commemorate 9/11. It  happened in many parts of the world. What happened in Nairobi, Kenya,  is being linked to that and people attempted to also bomb Abuja in September.

 “Some were arrested and some were killed but people confessed. There were obviously Boko Haram elements among them.”

At  the  Independence anniversary  church service tagged  “Living with certainty in uncertain times,” the President said     he lacked words and courage to explain to the bereaved families, and indeed Nigerians, what happened to the College of Agriculture students on Sunday.

While describing Boko Haram activities and other challenges facing his administration as creations of the devil meant to slow him down,  Jonathan  vowed that the insurgents  would not succeed.

He pledged that although forces of evil would continue to attempt to drag the nation back, he would leave the country better than he met it.

He said, “Today, you will agree with me that if you were in my shoes, you will lack words to say. We had this programme in mind when we went to bed last night that by this time, we would all gather here to thank God for what he has done for this great country.

“But then, only a few minutes after midnight, reports came in that about 21 students were murdered in Yobe State by a group that described themselves as Boko Haram.

“If you are wearing my shoes, what courage will you have to stand here before Nigerians? What message will you send to Nigerians and the parents of these people, our future leaders, students of a college of agriculture?

“Will you say that the killing of these students is political? The students belonged to which political group? People who killed them don’t even know them. Will you say it is ethnic cleansing? They belonged to which ethnic group in Nigeria?

“Will you say it was based on religious belief or what? These killed students, are they Christians, Muslims or what? This is the situation almost on a daily basis. It’s quite depressing!

“But having listened to the message of the CAN President (Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor), you will agree with me that all of us have hope. By God’s grace, we will get to where we want to get to as a nation.

“The journey of a nation is just like the journey of an individual. We will encounter obstacles. Sometimes, it gets darker when you are getting nearer. The challenges we are seeing now are very transient and  we will surely get over them.

“No Boko Haram or any group can suffer this country. We may suffer pains just like Jesus Christ said at critical moment that though the spirit is willing, the body is weak.

“I believe these challenges are the creations of the devil to slow down our development as a nation but we have reached the turning point where we must all move to join the developed society.”

I didn't say I'm going for 2015 election - Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said contrary to reports making the rounds, he had never at anytime promised that he would not contest the 2015 presidential election.

He also denied the claim by Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State that he signed an agreement with some Peoples Democratic Party governors for only one term in office. He challenged anybody with a copy of such agreement to produce it.

Jonathan was fielding questions from a panel of journalists during the Presidential Media Chat in Abuja on Sunday.

Continues

He answered questions ranging from politics and education to security, economy and power.

When pressed to be specific on whether he would contest the 2015 election, the President insisted that it was too early to make his intention known adding that doing so would violate the Electoral Act which stipulates the time frame within which politicians can declare their interests.

The President, however, said the fact that he had not declared his position did not mean that those who were interested in the seat could not go ahead and start working.

Jonathan said, “There was no agreement with anybody that I will serve for only one term. If I had signed any agreement with anybody, they would have shown you the agreement.

“I did not say that I will not contest in 2015. In Addis Ababa, that was when I advocated single term of seven years. My argument was that to  be more productive, maybe we should consider single term of seven years.

“ I said if Nigerians agree to that, I may not be involved. I did not say I will contest or not. Those who said I have signed an agreement, they should show the agreement.”

The President blamed past governments for the continuous campaign of violence being carried out by members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

He said the needless killings would have been avoided if the menace of the sect was curbed from the beginning.

“Boko Haram did not start today. I was Vice-President in 2009 when (Mohammed) Yusuf (Boko Haram leader) was killed. People talk about Boko Haram as if Jonathan caused it. It started before 2009 but because it was not handled well, it has grown into a cancer and it has become terrible. If something happened and you don’t take the right action, it will continue. But I can assure Nigerians that it will be brought under control,” he added.

When asked whether Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, was truly dead, the President replied, “I don’t know whether he is dead or alive. I don’t know him and I have not seen him before.”

The President, who regretted the protracted strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, described the action as unfortunate. He added that it had been politicised.

He called on the   university lecturers to consider the plight of their students and the sincerity of government and call off the strike.

The President, however, said it was wrong for ASUU to go on strike because of the state of infrastructure in universities when it was his government that initiated inventory of infrastructure in the institutions and returned a verdict that something drastic must be done.

He said, “ASUU strike is very unfortunate. There is no time a government has taken inventory of properties in schools but we set up a technical team that visited all universities. When the report was presented, I said it must be presented to all governors during NEC.

“We said things must change but it can’t be done overnight. For us to do that inventory shows that we are committed. For ASUU to go on strike for infrastructure is not fair. We are doing inventory for polytechnics and colleges of education too and they are not being done for fun.

“We expect ASUU to work with us. It is unfortunate that the strike lasts this long because we have witnessed strikes before and most of them are called off when government don’t even do up to what we have done.

“Politics have fallen into so many things. We may be seeing something different.”

Jonathan faulted those who have been describing the country as broke or bankrupt, saying that also smark  of unhealthy politics.

“People play politics with serious issues. How can you describe the country as bankrupt? What parameters did they use?  Anybody that says Nigeria is broke is playing politics and talking out of ignorance,” he declared.

On the power sector, Jonathan promised that before the end of the first quarter of next year, power would be stable in the country.

He also promised that his administration was building security architecture to tackle oil theft.

While admitting that corruption was  prevalence in the country, Jonathan however said the menace was not the nation’s number one problem.

He said, “We did an in-house investigation and we are still doing it now. I am not saying there is no corruption in the oil sector but the way people are looking at it may not be the real thing. Recently, we have  asked some auditors to look at the books again.”

President Jonathan to speak on current national issues today

President Goodluck Jonathan will host another edition of the Presidential Media Chat today Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 7pm. See the State House Press Release below

President Jonathan will in the course of the programme, answer questions from a panel of journalists on current national issues and events, as well as policies and actions of his administration. Members of the public who have questions they will like the President to respond to on the programme may send them in via Twitter to @mediachatng1.

The programme will be broadcast live on the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Voice of Nigeria (VON). Other television and radio stations are enjoined to hook up to NTA and FRCN to relay the programme to their viewers and listeners.

Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) 

UNILAG Student Tricked & Molested By 2 Boys Shares Her Story

She was kidnapped and defiled in turns by two friends, one of them close to her family, but she could not tell anyone because the guys took her unclad photos and she was afraid of the stigma. The guys posted the photos on the internet and somehow her relations abroad saw them.

INFO  gathered that it was her relations outside the country that contacted her mother and expose the r*pe of this UNILAG undergraduate. Below is what they did to the lady as stated by her:

“Babajide came to our house to treat our dog. In the process, he requested for my phone number and I reluctantly gave him. He started calling me and told me he would like to go out with me.“But I told him I already had a boyfriend whom I loved. Yet, he kept calling me, saying he was not interested in just going out with me but wanted to marry me. Aside that, he kept monitoring my movements and at a point, I deleted his contact on my phone.“I was returning home for a weekend in April, a car stopped by my side at Idumota bus-stop. Jide was sitting beside a driver who was unknown to me.

“On sighting him, I walked past. But the next thing he did was to hold me by the hand, dragged me into the car and drove to his house.

“When he got home, he started beating me and tore my clothes, asking what I wanted that he could not give me. He instructed me to unlock my phone and when he discovered that I used my boyfriend’s name as password, he resumed the beating.

“At a point, he gave me his phone to speak with some of his friends who told me I was in for trouble, for turning down a member of their unnamed cult, threatening that they would kill me for treating him shabbily.

“Thereafter, he defiled me and when he was done, his friend took his turn despite my plea. When he saw I was bleeding, he stopped and started begging me. At that point, he brought out his phone and started taking my unclad pictures. I made attempt to cover my face but he hit me on the head with a bottle and continued taking the shots.

How I escaped
“I begged him to allow me call my mother to give him some money for my release but he refused. I also appealed to him to delete my pictures when he started begging me.

“I stayed in that room all night till the next day when he went out to get me some drugs. Immediately he stepped out, I tried the door and discovered it was not locked from outside. I quickly changed into one of my dirty clothes in my bag and escaped.

“But I could not tell anyone at home. When my elder brother asked what the problem was on seeing the blood stained clothes, I told him I was involved in an accident and when my mother insisted on knowing what the problem was, I told her I fought with a course mate. She insisted on going to school with me on seeing the magnitude of the injury but I prevented her.

“Barely had I settled down than Babjide called, threatening to kill me if I disclosed what happened to anyone. As if that was not enough, his friends also called and threatened me as well.”

The alleged defiler, Babajide Bashorun, who claimed she was his girlfriend, has been charged to court.

Also read "I will die unmarried"  Operah Wifrey @ www.wifemedia.blogspot.com

I will leave this earth as a 'never married' - Oprah Winfrey

Billionaire talk show legend and actress Oprah Winfrey 59, has been

 dating Stedman Graham, 62, since 1986. That's 27 years - longer

 than a lot of marriages. Oprah said in an interview recently that

 although she considered marriage after she attended Tina Turner's

 wedding in Switzerland in July, she's pretty sure she will leave

 the world as a woman who 'never got married'

When asked if she would leave earth as a “never-married”

 woman, Oprah made her feelings very clear. “Yes,”

 she told Access Hollywood.

 “Yeah, I think that’s my final answer.”

“I think that it’s interesting that you would ask 

it because I thought about it again at Tina Turner’s 

wedding. Because Tina was like, ‘Oprah, you need to

 do this. You need to do it.’ I was just thinking, ‘Well,

 OK, would things really be different?’ And no,

 I don’t think so. If you ever interviewed him (Stedman),

 he would tell you that had we married, we would not be

 together today, because he’s a traditional man and this

 is a very untraditional relationship.”

Oprah also explained that she couldn’t be a wife because the

 word holds responsibilities she doesn’t feel capable of handling.

“I may not live long”; Kunle Afolayan (Nollywood Director)

Celebrated film maker and actor Kunle Afolayan has dropped heart stopping posts on Facebook indicating that his workaholic lifestyle may eventually end his life.

Kunle who is working round the clock to meet the October 1 deadline of his highly anticipated film “October 1″ took to Facebook to drop some of his darkest thoughts. ‘My Obsession with filmmaking makes me think I may not live long, I forbid it though” I got back to Lagos yester night (sic) very tired and sleepy after 42days of shoot, got home ate then went to bed. All I see throughout my sleep are the shots I took and those that I felt I should have done differently. Woke up this morning and all I have in my head is the deadline of the trailer release which in October 1, 2013, in about 11 days and the completion of the whole project. Yes, am very passionate about film making but I think being too obsessed is not healthy. What do you guys think?’Kunle battles to meet a treacherous deadline too close for comfort with fears the release date may have to be shifted. Along side this all-consuming film production, Kunle also plays lead character in a new film ‘Dotun’ by ace film-maker Tunde Kelani. Fans have been pouring in advice on Kunle’s Facebook wall with a passionate appeal for him to take things easy…

TRANSFORMATION CONFERENCE

HERE WE GO!

OLUMIDE OLADAPO EMMANUEL popularly known as the Common Sense Guru is no doubt one of the world’s leading Relationship Experts, Motivational Speakers and Wealth Creation Agents.

He is a man of multiple graces whose influence spreads across the religious and secular arena with local and international awards to show for it. He is a best-selling author of over thirty books both from self-published platform and world renowned publishing houses. His books are well celebrated worldwide with eight of them already translated in other languages.

With an Executive Masters Degree in Business Administration from University of Huddersfield in the UK and A Real Estate Executive Certificate with a special focus on Capital Markets, Project Finance, and Business Strategy from the prestigious Harvard Business School in the United States, Olumide Emmanuel is loaded with all round success. He is the Host of the daily “Pathway to Wealth” broadcast with millions of followers; the weekly “Success, Business, and Leadership School” where a new breed without greed is being raised, empowered and released; and the monthly “School of Money Seminar” where thousands of participants are being mentored and guided for cooperative wealth; and many other conferences like the “Wisdom for Singles”, “Wisdom for Couples”, “How to be a Best-selling Author”, “How to Build a Successful Business” and “How to be a Millionaire”.

He is on the board of many businesses and organisations and directly manages some of them which include Parable Ventures Ltd, Fingerprints, Plus Global Ventures and the Common Sense Group as the Chairman and CEO over the group with subsidiaries covering Real Estate, Oil and Gas, Travel and Tours, Publishing, Media, Consulting, Training and Seminar.

As a Philanthropist and Humanitarian, he founded the Non-Governmental Organisation, Dynamites Forum International (DFI) to help empower the youth and raise the next generation, and the Olumide Emmanuel Foundation (OEF) with the aim of eradicating poverty and establishing a positive legacy.He is married with children.

Folks, Pls meet our HOST for the conference of the year #transformationconference, my father-in-the-Lord, Pst. Olumide Emmanuel. He is a keynote speaker also.

Few days to go! pls start making adequate preparation to attend.
29th Sept. - 6th Oct. 2013
www.calvarybiblechurch.org.ng
www.trucalms.org

"Directing Actors" 2-Day Film Workshop with Peter D. Marshall

Working with actors can be one of the most rewarding experiences
for a film director - or one of the most traumatic! And the
difference between a good experience and a bad experience usually
comes down to one word: TRUST!

So how do you get actors to trust you? 

Actors need a director to act as a sounding board. That's because
actors are focused on one thing - the role they are playing.

Actors rarely have an overview of how their character fits into
the whole narrative story and it's the director's job to know the
destination of the story and the objectives of each character in
that story.

A director's primary concern on the set is to provide approval
and reassurance to your actors. With actors, subjectivity is ever
present and actors need to work with someone who understands them
and their vulnerability.

Remember, to find a character they are playing, actors must
surrender completely to feelings and impulses. A good director
understands an actor's vulnerability and creates a safe place for
them to perform.

To help you learn how to better work with actors during prep
(casting/rehearsals) and on set, I will be teaching two, 2 day
workshops for Raindance Canada called "Directing Actors."

NOTE: The content of each workshop is exactly the same - just
different cities and different dates for your convenience.

The first will be in Vancouver on November 30 & December 1, 2013:http://www.raindance.org/vancouver/course/directing-actors/
Contact: Karen Margolese 
karen@raindance.org

The second will be in Toronto on January 25 & 26, 2014:
http://www.raindance.org/toronto/course/film-directing-advanced-blocking/
Contact : Jaimy Warner 
jaimy@raindancecanada.com

The main objective of this "Directing Actors" workshop is to
demonstrate how directors and actors can work effectively
together to build trust; to maximize performance on set; and
understand how to work together cooperatively in a tense,
time-sensitive and often challenging creative environment.

Day One will focus on the Director's script preparation, as well
as live demonstrations of the audition process, the script
read-through and the cast rehearsal.

On Day Two, the class will be divided into groups and have the
opportunity to participate in directing a scene with professional
actors. Each scene will be recorded and played back for
discussion and review.

LIMITED SEATS: Because this 2 day workshop will be hands-on for
participants, there are only 20 seats available for each class.

(As of September 23, 5 filmmakers have already registered
for the Vancouver workshop.) 

So if you are interested in attending one of these workshops,
please check out the links below.

Are you coming from outside North America?

If you are travelling from outside North America, I have included
the contact person's name and email from both the Vancouver and
Toronto Raindance offices.

Both Karen and Jaimy will be able to help you arrange for the
proper entrance visas as well as recommendations for
accommodation in each city.

The Vancouver workshop is on November 30 & December 1, 2013:
http://www.raindance.org/vancouver/course/directing-actors/
Contact: Karen Margolese 
karen@raindance.org

The Toronto workshop is on January 25 & 26, 2014:
http://www.raindance.org/toronto/course/film-directing-advanced-blocking/
Contact : Jaimy Warner 
jaimy@raindancecanada.com

Hope to see you either in Vancouver or Toronto :)

All the best,

Peter

P.S. Each 2 day workshop will be hands-on for participants, so
there are only 20 seats available for each class.

P.P.S. As of September 23, 5 filmmakers have already registered
for the Vancouver workshop. 

30 Tips for Preserving a Healthy Mind

Need some practical advice for improving your mental health? Start with these simple mental health tips. 

Are you feeling depressed lately and wondering how to improve your mood? Are you in the midst of getting over a significant loss in your life and wondering how to keep your mind healthy as you grieve? Are you interested in how you can maintain a healthy mind to keep your body healthy?

Mental health is a complex subject-- it's hard to define and difficult to grasp all of the different aspects of mental health. Still, however, there are simple steps that you can take in your life to keep your mind healthy.

Check out these practical tips for maintaining a healthy mind! Employ just a few of these ideas and you'll likely feel the difference in your mental health.

1) Make sure you’re getting enough rest. Sleep is the body’s way of recharging, meaning that sleep doesn’t only increase your energy—it actually boosts your mental health.

2) Feel what you feel! Don't worry about controlling or changing your feelings. For now, focus on expressing the feelings that you have rather than trying to feel a certain way.

3) Forgive yourself for past mistakes. Messing up is a part of life, and mental health requires understanding that and moving past mistakes in our lives. Is there a mistake or regret that eats at you? Let. It. Go.

4) Throw a mini-party for yourself! Celebrate a recent accomplishment in your life by patting yourself on the back and rewarding yourself with a small gift you've been looking forward to. It's important to acknowledge successes-- not just failures.

5) Find a good support system. Whether family, friends, a church, or something else, find a group of people who are willing to love you for who you are. This boosts resilience and helps to provide perspective in the midst of stress and pain.

6) Eat healthy. Invest time in learning which kinds of foods bring you “up” and which kinds bring you “down.” Committing to a diet can make you feel good about yourself, give you a sense of self-improvement, and boost your sense of accomplishment.

7) Exercise. Regularly exercising can help to cut back stress in your life, releasing pent up energy as you work your body. Exercise releases endorphins, chemicals in the brain that energize us.

8) Get some sun. Sunlight can lift one’s spirits, boosting mental health and preventing depression.

9) Leave some time for leisure. Make sure you allow time in your schedule for whatever causes you to relax. Maybe it's watching movies or completing crossword puzzles or walking outside. Make time for the things you know relax you.

10) Stay away from drugs and alcohol. When you consume cigarettes, illegal drugs, and alcohol, these drugs tamper with your mental health, decreasing mental stability and giving you “false positive” emotions.

11) Commit to helping others. You can build self-esteem and self-worth by regularly pouring out your energy and talents to help others. Volunteering is another activity that releases endorphins, boosting your mood.

12) Do things that require discipline. Self-control increases self-worth, as you feel like you can control aspects of your life.

13) Learn something new! Part of what makes us human is our tendency to challenge ourselves. Challenge yourself to learn something new-- maybe a new skill, sport, or game.

14) Spend time enjoying art. Studying artwork exercises our minds and encourages us to think creatively. Take some time to visit a gallery or an art show-- you may return with a new perspective on your situation.

15) Find a good listener, and return the favor. Find one person who is willing to listen to you vent and talk freely. It can also relieve stress to form a listening partnership, where the two of you share on a regular basis.

16) Stick to your friends! Do what you can to intentionally keep in touch with a circle of friends. Schedule lunches, dates, or get-togethers with your friends more often. Deep friendships remind us of a sense of belonging.

17) Make the decision not to worry. Worry will consume your mind if you let it, but you can also train yourself to avoid worry, to choose a life without anxiety. Ask God to help you not to worry.

18) Do things that engage your senses. Each day, perform one task that engages each of your senses: sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste. Engaging your senses helps you to live in the moment and focus on the present.

19) Leave time to build and create! Even if it's just LEGOs or a can of Play-doh, it's important to engage our creative sides frequently. When the mind gets into a rut of the same sort of thinking, it gets sick. Keep it well by staying creative.

20) Consider getting a pet. This is a big decision, but having a pet can really help mental health. Pets love us unconditionally, keep us active, and provide us a way to care for something.

21) Leave time for nothing. Make sure your schedule has a little room for free time: time that is unbudgeted. Use that time for meditation, prayer, or relaxation exercises.

22) Cut out late-night TV and computer use. Studies have shown that watching TV and using a computer late at night can cause depressive symptoms.

23) Spend time with people every day. Find people who are like you and who like you. This one seems pretty obvious, but it's easy to forget when you're depressed or down. Interacting with people is likely part of the solution, not the problem.

24) Work to understand what stresses you. Understand your stressors and be able to recognize how you need to react. Be informed about what is happening in your mind and body.

25) Give and receive compliments. Find reasons to praise people, and be willing to accept people's praises of you. This will help you to appreciate the good in those around you and recognize it in yourself.

26) Join a club or social group that meets regularly. This will help to create a community in your life, fueling purpose and camaraderie.

27) Leave time to laugh. Try to laugh hysterically every day. Feed yourself funny things, allowing your mind to decompress from time to time.

28) Accept that there are some things you cannot change. A lot of anxiety stems from trying to change things beyond our control. Recognizing that some things are beyond our control is a key to a healthy, anxiety-free mind.

29) Engage in spirituality on a regular basis. Make sure you're exercising not just your mind and your body but also your spirit. Interact regularly with a spiritual community. Putting faith in God relieves stress on ourselves.

30) Talk to God about where you’re at. Interact with God in prayer on a daily basis and allow God to be a part of your stress-reduction strategy. He’s been doing it for thousands of years—He’s got a little more practice than you do.