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 ...

      “Every gift comes with a price.” This simple line carries a deep philosophical, moral, and even spiritual weight—one that cuts across personal life, politics, religion, and history. At its core, the statement challenges the illusion of free benefit . Nothing of real value arrives without consequence. The price may not always be immediate, visible, or monetary—but it always exists. 1. The Hidden Cost of Blessings Gifts often arrive wrapped in celebration, but their costs unfold later. Talent demands discipline. A gifted mind pays in isolation, pressure, and expectation. Power demands sacrifice. Authority extracts loyalty, sleepless nights, and moral compromise. Wealth demands vigilance. Riches invite envy, fear, and the burden of preservation. What we call a “blessing” frequently becomes a test. Many are not destroyed by lack, but by abundance they were unprepared to carry. 2. The Moral Price Every advantage shifts responsibility. To receive without accoun...

      “Of Making Many Books There Is No End” — Ecclesiastes 12:12 and the Tyranny of Endless Information By Sights and Sounds of Ndon-Eyo II, Etinan “Of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” — Ecclesiastes 12:12 Thousands of years before smartphones, social media, artificial intelligence, and 24-hour news cycles, the writer of Ecclesiastes saw it coming. With startling clarity, Ecclesiastes 12:12 reads today less like ancient poetry and more like a diagnosis of modern life. We live in an age drowning in information but starving for wisdom. An Ancient Text, A Modern Crisis When the Teacher (Qoheleth) spoke of the endless making of books, he was addressing a world of scrolls, scribes, and scholars. Yet the insight transcends its era. Today, “books” have multiplied into tweets, posts, blogs, videos, podcasts, opinion pieces, leaked documents, conspiracy theories, AI-generated texts, and viral misinformation. The result? A...

  December 25: The Birthday That History Refuses to Confirm An interfaith editorial for Sights and Sounds of Ndon-Eyo II Etinan Every December, the world pauses. Streets glow, churches overflow, carols rise, and a single claim hums beneath it all: Jesus was born today. But history clears its throat and quietly says: We don’t know that. This is not an attack on faith. It is a confrontation with comfort. And in an age where religion is increasingly weaponized, truth—especially inconvenient truth—matters. When Faith Outran Memory The earliest followers of Jesus did not celebrate his birthday. They preached his message. They remembered his death. They expected his return. For nearly three centuries , Christians argued over when —or whether—Jesus’ birth should even be marked. There was no sacred date passed down, no whisper from Bethlehem carefully preserved. If December 25 were known, it would not have taken Rome 300 years to find it. The truth is uncomfortable but clear: D...

Who Are the Muslim Brotherhood? Who Are the Muslim Brotherhood? The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) is a transnational Sunni Islamist organization founded in Egypt in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna . Its main aim was to promote Islamic governance, social reform, and the application of Sharia law in political and social life. Over the decades, it has grown into a political and social movement , establishing schools, charities, and political parties in many countries. Core Ideals: Islam as a comprehensive guide for life, including politics. Social justice, charity, and education as key tools for societal reform. Opposition to Western secular influence in Muslim-majority countries. Influence in Africa and Nigeria: In Africa, the Brotherhood’s ideology influenced Islamist movements in countries like Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, and Somalia. In Nigeria , its influence is largely ideological and philanthropic rather than political. Some local Islamist groups have adopted MB principles, especially regard...