“I am not happy with what gospel music has become today. As one of the pioneers of gospel music in Nigeria, we laid it foundation on evangelism. We concentrate on reading the bible to get inspired, to get good lyrics and messages.

"Gospel songs are meant to motivate people to serve God, to give comfort, to speak Jesus, to praise and worship, to give salvation. Today, it has become commerce and entertainment; hence, we now have gospel songs in various forms like gospel Fuji, Juju, Senwele, etc. Most people sing because they want money, fame, etc. What we now experience is the danger of the perilous times.

“However, I don't have a hard-line opposition to all these gospel fuji, gospel Waka, gospel reggae, etc. I believe God loves all types of music but it depends on the way you present them. You cannot create a gospel rhythm on its own.

"Some gospel songs have a flavour of reggae, blues, calypso, country music, etc. but the lyrics, the attitude of the singer coupled with music presentation make it a gospel music. My concern with these gospel innovations is that they are more secular than gospel, more worldly than spiritual.

"Gospel music should attract secular audience to Christ not the other way round. The Holy Spirit must be in the song to make it gospel. The idea of adapting secular tunes to create acceptance for gospel songs is wrong and non-apostolic. The motive, I dare say, is to make it more than to preach the word.

“This motive is also responsible for the criminal act of singing other people's songs without giving credits or asking for permission. Some of them pick “old songs” or “choruses”, claiming they are in the public domain or that nobody owns the songs.

"These people are not sincere. They know the songs are not theirs, they are either lazy or and unwilling to spend money to find the composers. Yet they use the songs and put on the sleeves that “all songs written and composed by (them)”.

This is wrong. All they need to do is put their names on the songs they have composed and those they claim to be in public domain, put composers unknown.

In case the composer surfaces, you will explain, apologise and then compensate him/her.Truly, God owns all songs but He used someone to compose them. He who works by the altar must eat by the altar. It is not tenable to say because you are a Christian you should suffer while others are reaping from your creativity.

"Those who wish to take such violators to court to get their dues, they have my support. However, some of our members whose copyrights were violated have not gotten justice from the law courts. This has frustrated me in copyrighting my songs because what is the essence of doing so when no justice can be gotten .

" Go to Alaba or Idumota markets in Lagos, nobody is arresting anybody for piracy. So I have allowed things to go the way they are. Nevertheless, for record purposes, I shall endeavour to register my works with the Nigeria copyright Council.

“The lyrics of what qualifies to be called gospel music must be capable of touching men. It must contain messages of repentance for sinners and assurance of salvation for mankind. It should contain lyrics/messages that counsel against immorality. The bible should be the standard. The message must come from the scripture.

“Gospel beats, rhythm, tempo should also be conducive to contrition. There are beats dished out in some of these songs which immediately you listen to it transport your mind to the dancing steps you see on TV.

People dance Makossa, Fuji, etc right in the church. That is not okay. We are preaching that the secular world should come to Christ but now there is no difference between the two.

"This problem has graduated to a height where some pastors do not see anything wrong with this. They allow their instrumentalists to play such suggestive songs and rhythms, which encourage suggestive and seductive dance steps and body movements. They forget that people dance according to the instrumentation. Pastors should endeavour to correct such instrumentalists.