Kenya, March 24 -- Nigerian singer Timi Dakolo has strongly accused Pastor Femi Lazarus of being a hypocrite. He says that Lazarus charges $150 for people to join his ministry school but criticises gospel artists for doing something similar.
This disagreement started on social media today and has led to a lot of discussion among fans, followers of the church, and online users.
Dakolo, who is known for his emotional songs and bold personality, posted on X to call out Lazarus.
He said the pastor is making money from his ministry training while pretending to be a spiritual guide.
"You can't criticize gospel singers for charging money and then ask for $150 for your school," Dakolo wrote.
His post quickly spread, and he included screenshots that show the fees for the ministry school.
Pastor Lazarus, who is becoming popular in Nigeria's church community, has previously said that he does not support gospel artists who ask for payment for their shows or workshops because he believes ministry should not be about making money.
Dakolo's claims suggest that there is a big difference between what Lazarus teaches and what he does, leading to accusations of double standards.
As of this afternoon, Lazarus has not answered Dakolo's claims directly. However, some of his supporters have defended him, saying that the money from the ministry school is needed to pay for costs.
Critics are supporting Dakolo, pointing out that this situation shows a larger problem in religious leadership.
The argument has started new conversations about the commercialisation of faith in Nigeria, with people on X sharing their views under hashtags like #TimiVsFemi and #MinistryMoney.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.