Veteran Afro Juju musician Sir Shina Peters has responded to comments made by the founder of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, following a viral sermon in which the cleric compared Peters’ financial decisions to those of Zenith Bank founder, Jim Ovia.

 

The controversy arose after a video circulated online showing Pastor Ashimolowo addressing his congregation on the principle of delayed gratification. In the sermon, he cited both men as contrasting examples of how an initial sum of money was used.

 

“Shina Peters, ₦20 million, he built a house. Jim Ovia, ₦20 million, started a bank,” Ashimolowo said. “One man is now fixing leaking roofs, broken toilets, doors that no longer close, and the other one—every country I go to in Africa, I see a branch of Zenith Bank. I am speaking into somebody’s life now: delay your gratification and God will lift you up.”

 

The remarks quickly generated mixed reactions on social media, with fans and fellow entertainers debating whether the comparison was fair or dismissive of the singer’s achievements and career.

 

Nearly a week after the video went viral, Sir Shina Peters addressed the issue in a statement shared via his Instagram Stories on Wednesday. The music icon said he had no intention of escalating the matter or pursuing legal action against the pastor.

 

According to Peters, his decision was influenced by his respect for the cleric and his own spiritual convictions.

 

“The way I see it, God has really blessed me beyond words,” he said. “You can’t even begin to imagine the blessings of God upon my life all these decades. People close to me know what I am talking about.”

 

He added that, as a clergyman himself, he preferred not to speak ill of Pastor Ashimolowo, choosing instead to focus on gratitude and personal fulfillment.

 

Sir Shina Peters remains one of Nigeria’s most influential musicians, widely credited for popularising Afro Juju music and shaping the country’s contemporary sound over several decades.