Nigerian singer and pastor Olubankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, has cautioned Nigerians against making sweeping accusations about the church amid rising criticism of prosperity-focused preaching.
Speaking during a recent discussion, Banky W said public conversations around wealth, faith and church accountability have become increasingly polarised. According to him, many citizens now assume that the misconduct of a few religious leaders reflects the behaviour of the entire Christian community.
“I don’t think it’s fair to assume that because something happened in one place, everyone else is guilty of the same thing,” he said.
Banky W stressed that two damaging extremes exist within Christian discourse, the prosperity gospel and the poverty gospel. Both, he argued, misrepresent the message of the Bible.
“The prosperity gospel is false and corrupted, and the poverty gospel is also false and corrupted,” he stated. “Scripture teaches that God provides what we need and blesses us so we can be a blessing.”
He also challenged the popular belief that Christians must either attain billionaire-level wealth or embrace suffering to prove their faithfulness. Neither expectation, he said, aligns with the teachings of the Bible.
“The promise is not that everyone will become another Dangote or Otedola, and it’s also not that we are destined to sleep under the bridge,” he added.
While acknowledging that some churches have indeed abused teachings on wealth, Banky W urged Nigerians to avoid painting all ministries with the same brush.
“There is a segment of the church that has misused these teachings, and those allegations are true. I don’t like those abuses either,” he said.
His comments come at a time when debates over church accountability, financial transparency and doctrinal purity continue to dominate Nigerian social media conversations.
About the Author
