Nigerian pastor Tobi Adegboyega, who resides in the United Kingdom, has called his friend and musician David Adeleke, better known by his stage name Davido, a gospel singer.

In a recent episode of the Off The Record podcast, Adegboyega, who is being deported due to alleged fraud in the UK, made this assertion. Adegboyega clarified that he chose secular musicians over gospel performers for his recent birthday celebration, citing the music’s content as the primary factor.

He pointed to Davido’s hit song ‘Stand Strong’ as an example of uplifting content that fits the gospel narrative.

“Gospel means good news. Everyone there is a gospel artiste. Davido is a gospel artist. Have you heard: ‘Because I stand strong?’” Adegboyega said.

The pastor further defended his decision, stating that the performers, including Zlatan, were his close friends who had supported him through thick and thin.

“What I had then was my friends—friends who are there through thick and thin. Davido told me: ‘I just want to be there and perform for one hour.’ They’re my friends. I didn’t pay any of them. They love me, and I will give my friends platforms.”

In the face of criticism from gospel artistes questioning his style of ministry, Adegboyega dismissed their remarks, stressing his preference for surrounding himself with those who support him unconditionally.

“If gospel artistes aren’t my friends and are instead joining the bandwagon to criticize me by asking, ‘Is that a church?’ What should I do? Drag them with a rope?” he questioned.

He continued, “It’s my friends that will be there. Everyone in that room was my friend. Zlatan is like a son to me; his kids are my kids, and his parents were in my house. So should I now say, ‘Well, because you are not gospel artistes, let me go and look for some gospel artistes who are criticizing me and force them to sing?’”

“My friends will always sing at my events, and the next one will be bigger because my circle of friends keeps growing.”