By Kunle Edun

The news media went viral with the passing way of popular gospel artist, Osinachi Nwachukwu as a result of injuries allegedly inflicted on her by her husband, Mr. Peter Nwachukwu; who incidentally is her manager. Friends of Osinachi alleged that the singer’s husband is a “control freak” and that he subjected her to ceaseless domestic violence. Another source stated that the married duo had a domestic quarrel which led to the husband kicking her on her chest which led to her being rushed to the hospital and placed on life support for five days before she finally passed on.

It was also alleged that the singer confided in one her friends that “If not for the church and what people will say, I would have left this marriage.” Another said that “He would lock her up in the house even on days when she had important concerts and programmes that she had already been paid for. I hosted her in one of my programmes, The INVASION in 2019. It was a terrible experience with the husband on the phone and then when she arrived, she shared scary marital issues. She had to sneak out of the house to honour the invitation. The husband threatened me on the phone and assured me that the wife would not return to his house if she attended the event.”

Domestic violence in marriage is as old as the marriage institution. Sadly, religion and African tradition apparently frown against a married woman challenging or competing with her husband. A wife must always be submissive and suffer in silence. We seem to forget that the wife is the daughter of someone and a mother of children. That she has a soul and a constitutional right to life, just like her husband. The fundamental rights provisions contained in Chapter 4 of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 is for the benefit of all Nigerians, both males and females. No man or woman has the right to take the life of the other. The criminal laws of the various states in Nigeria prohibit assault, torture and maltreatment of women and the girl-child. Violations attract terms of imprisonment.

Upon conclusion of investigation by the Police and if Mr. Peter Unachukwu is eventually indicted for killing his wife, he would be charged with the murder of Osinachi. Under the law a murder charge attracts only one sentence, which is death.

Hard lessons should be learnt from this unfortunate but preventable incident. A talented gospel singer just gone like that. There is a saying in Warri that, marriage no be by force. No woman should stay a day longer in a marriage where the husband is the violent type who uses his wife as a daily punching bag. Resultantly, such beastly acts impacts negatively on the mental state of the children of the marriage and may affect how they also manage their own relationships. The boy-child may see nothing wrong in beating a woman since his father does it and the heavens did not fall. The girl-child who may later get married may accept it as part of the hazards of marriage, and not complain.

A victim of domestic violence should not hesitate in reporting her abusive spouse to the Police and being that we are Africans, complaint should be made to the violent spouses’s relations. However, such complaints must be documented because of the possibility of denial of same by the husband should it re-occur. Victims should also seek legal advice from solicitors on legal remedies open to them. Marriage is a contract and like any other contract, it can be dissolved. There is nothing like for better, for worse when a spouse is a thug in the house. It was said that the priests that came up with the saying, for better, for worse were probably never married. Churches and families should stop condoning domestic violence all in an attempt to protect the name of the church and the family. Those that failed to advise Osinachi to save her life are equally culpable in her death.

Rest in peace, Osinachi.