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ECOWAS at 50: Regional Voices Call for Stronger Constitutionalism and Democratic Resilience in West Africa

 Oriontimes International Desk| April 10, 2026 As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) marks its 50th anniversary, renewed calls have emerged for deeper commitment to constitutional governance and democratic stability across the West African sub-region. ECOWAS, the economic and political bloc comprising 15 West African countries, has played a pivotal role in regional integration, peacekeeping, and conflict resolution since its establishment. However, as the region faces evolving political challenges, stakeholders are emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen democratic institutions. A diplomatic news platform, Paradigm News, led by Ambassador Raymond Enoch, who also maintains professional ties with ECOWAS and the State of the African Diaspora engaged prominent opinion leaders and policy experts across the region to share insights on the theme: “ECOWAS and the Imperative of Strengthening Constitutionalism and Democratic Resilience in West Africa.” Among those consu...
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In the Voice of Joshua Selman: The Early Church Was a Movement, Now Many Churches Are Monuments - Abioye Tosin Lawrence




 _when the movement returns, monuments will tremble_ 

Once upon a pulpit, fishermen became apostles. Now, apostles become influencers. Once, men wept in upper rooms for the Holy Spirit; today, they weep in boardrooms over livestream engagement stats.


In the early church, Peter healed a lame man at the gate called Beautiful. In today’s church, the gate is still beautiful Italian marble, gold-plated,  but the lame are charged gate fees for healing services that require seed offerings and a PayPal link.

Let’s be honest,  if Jesus walked into most churches today, He wouldn’t be ushered to the front row. No. He’d be stopped by protocol for wearing dusty sandals and no ID tag. And if He flipped a few offering baskets in righteous anger, they’d call security, or worse, accuse Him of attacking “God’s anointed."


Enter the voice of Joshua Selman, or rather, the spirit behind him calling out to a generation in slumber:
"What we have today is not the Gospel.

These days, church is big business. The pastor is the CEO. The pulpit is a stage. The choir is an entertainment unit. And the Holy Spirit is expected to follow the media team’s cue.


Ask the youth why they attend service:
“To take Instagram pictures.”
“To sow for my Range Rover Evoque.”
“To be anointed for Canada.”
Rarely, if ever: “To be transformed.”

Meanwhile, the genuine few,  the Joshuas, the Pauls, the obscure prophets with no brand manager are labeled “motivational speakers” simply because they refuse to manipulate. They challenge, they awaken, and worse: they make people think. A crime in the modern religious enterprise.

When last did your “man of God” preach on sacrifice, truth, or justice without conveniently swerving into tithes and honorarium? When last did you see a church budget published publicly, or pastors taking salary cuts in times of national hardship?


No shade. Just light.

The early church cast out demons. Today’s church casts out dissenters. The early church sold possessions to feed the poor. Today’s church sells wristbands to fund a private airstrip.

And still, we call it "revival."

Perhaps the greatest miracle of modern Christianity is how many churches grow without growing Christ.

But not all hope is lost. Somewhere, a Joshua speaks. Somewhere, a youth listens. Somewhere, the fire flickers again, not on stages, but in hearts.

And when the movement returns, monuments will tremble.

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