Nigerian entertainer and former politician Bankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, has reflected on how his defeat in the 2023 House of Representatives election prompted him to seek spiritual direction and reconsider his life’s purpose.
The singer, filmmaker and entrepreneur shared the experience on Instagram on Thursday as he marked one year in pastoral ministry in the United States.
Banky W said losing the election left him heartbroken, prompting him to turn to God for guidance on what direction to take next.
He explained that the setback led him to reflect on how his interests in politics, entertainment, business and ministry could fit into the same life rather than require him to choose just one path.
According to him, he initially sought clarity on whether his future lay in political leadership, the entertainment industry, business or religious service.
However, he said he eventually came to see these pursuits as responsibilities that could coexist rather than competing options.
Banky W described the realisation as a turning point, saying he believed his responsibilities were expanding rather than narrowing after the election defeat.
Reflecting on his current activities, he said he continues to work in filmmaking, music and entrepreneurship while also serving as a pastor and professor.
The entertainer recalled joking in the past that the letter “P” in his name, P. Banks, stood for professor rather than pastor. He now sees both roles as part of his journey.
Banky W also acknowledged the demands of travelling between Lagos and the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia area, commonly known as the DMV, to meet his professional and ministry commitments.
Despite the challenges, he expressed gratitude for the opportunities that have emerged since the election, saying the outcome had not followed the path he originally hoped for but had led him towards a different direction.
.
advertisement
He added that the experience had reminded him that an apparent setback could mark the beginning of another chapter in a person’s life.
Banky W contested the 2023 House of Representatives election for the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency in Lagos State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. He lost to Thaddeus Attah of the Labour Party.
His latest reflection offers a personal account of how he says that electoral defeat influenced his subsequent journey into pastoral ministry in the United States.