When Altars Eclipse the Constitution: Religion and the Power Crisis of the Nigerian State By Sights and Sounds of Ndon-Eyo II Etinan Nigeria proclaims itself a secular republic, governed by a written constitution and a framework of laws. Yet across the nation’s lived reality, another authority often reigns supreme—religion. From the pulpit to the minbar, from church crusades to mosque sermons, faith routinely commands obedience more potent than the directives of the Nigerian state itself. This is not an abstract debate. It is a crisis of power, legitimacy, and national cohesion. Moral Obedience vs Legal Authority Religion in Nigeria enjoys what the state increasingly lacks: moral authority . Millions obey religious leaders instinctively, often without question, while government institutions are met with suspicion, cynicism, or outright defiance. A single sermon can mobilize crowds faster than a presidential address; a prophetic declaration can override a court ruling ...