By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Popular Gospel artist Panam Percy Paul has revealed how he chose Jesus over a N7 billion offer after being asked to reduce the number of times he mentioned the name of Jesus in his songs.
Speaking in an interview with Pastor Emmanuel Iren, Panam Percy Paul explained that the three-year contract came with conditions that would have compromised his faith.
“The catch was, ‘Can you reduce the number of times you call the name Jesus in your songs?’
“One of them even said to me, ‘You actually don’t need to mention the name Jesus. You can call Him other names.’
“I was shocked, so I told them, ‘You can keep the money while I keep the name,’” he narrated.
He continued, “I was at the peak of ministry and success in the industry. I was offered £24 million for a three-year contract. 1995, £24 million was equivalent to ₦7 billion. I told them, you can keep the money, while I keep the name.”
He revealed that the record label suggested replacing ‘Jesus’ with alternative names like “Righteous One” or “Greatest Lover” to make his music more commercially appealing.
Panam Percy Paul also expressed concern over the increasing commercialisation of gospel music, lamenting how record labels and marketers now dictate how artists create their songs.
“Today, the extreme is that the music ministry has now become a music industry,” he said. “The industry now dictates to the ministers what to do, how to sing, and when to sing.”