In 1995, I was offered N7 billion to reduce ‘Jesus’ in my songs – Panam Percy

Gospel singer, Panam Percy Paul, has revealed that he turned down a highly lucrative record deal that could have changed his career in 1995.

In an interview with Pastor Emmanuel Iren, the singer recalled being offered a three-year contract worth £24 million.

However, he stated that the deal came with a condition that directly conflicted with his Christian values.

Recounting his experience, Paul revealed that the record label requested he limits the number of times he mentions the name “Jesus” in his songs.

The singer said the record label executive also suggested he uses alternative terms like “Righteous One” or “Greatest Lover” in place of Jesus.

He recalled: “1995, I was at the peak of ministry, and success in the industry, I was offered 24 million pounds for a three year contract. 1995, 24 million pounds was equivalent to 7 billion naira. The catch was ‘can you reduce the number of times you call the name Jesus in your songs?’. And there is more where this came from. and one of them said to me, ‘you actually don’t need to mention the name Jesus. You can call him other names like Righteous one, Greatest Lover.’ I was shocked, so I told them, you can keep the money, while I keep the name.

“Today, the extreme is that music ministry has now become music industry. Where the industry now dictates to the ministers what to do, how to sing and when to sing. For example, it was the marketers in Alaba that encouraged the musicians to add tongues to their songs.”