…As Family Remains Mute
Mixed reactions of tributes and shock have continued to trail the death of Nigerian gospel singer, sister Osinachi Nwachukwu, who passed away on Friday, April 8.
Many Nigerians, especially those in Christendom have expressed their condolences and disbelief over the death of the worship leader.
Worship singer Okopi Peterson (@okopi_peterson) posted “Wake me up, the shock is heavy”.
Yoruba gospel singer Tope Alabi (@tope_alabi), on her Instagram wrote “Good night Osinachi Nwachukwu. It’s painful you have to leave us now but heaven is rejoicing having you.”
Singer Nene Olajide said “It’s so hard to say goodbye Ma, but God knows best. We love you but God’s love surpasses all. Thank you for always blessing me. Mrs. Osinachi Nwachukwu, you made a great impact to this generation”.
The late Osinachi’s duet partner in the popular song ‘Ekwueme’, Prospa Ochimana, simply posted a black space on his official Instagram (@prospaochimana).
Amaka Okwuoha, popularly called Chioma Jesus (@officialchiomajesus) wrote “OSI’M, I’m so heartbroken and still in disbelief”.
Gospel artiste, Solomon Lange (@solomonlange) posted “RIP Great Woman of God”.
Steve Crown (@steve_crown_official) said “Your life was a blessing. Missed beyond measure”.
Preye Odede (@preyeodede) posting a broken heart wrote A whole lot of thoughts. Dear Lord
Gift Ugochi Christopher, better known as Minister GUC (@ministerGUC) said “What a loss! Your impact remains Ma”.
Comedienne Princess wrote “What a loss, what a sad exit. Sis Osinachi, may your gentle soul rest in the bosom of the living God. There is truly no one like Him”.
‘Give Abba a hug for me’ was what Deborah, first daughter of the senior pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche wrote on her Facebook page; as she posted a poem titled ‘I brought you flowers’. The poem read in part: “The last time we spoke, you said very little but it said so much. I barely knew you but this I know, you carried God, you embodied peace. It was apparent you had weathered so many storms yet you were so visibly unshaken. You sang as though you were next to Abba; now you are…”
However, some people attribute her untimely death to domestic abuse.
Singer-songwriter Frank Edwards in a live tweet on Saturday evening said “I have never pulled my weight against anybody, but this, it cannot go like that”. Earlier in the day, Edward had posted on his IG handle (@frankrichboy) “So that unreasonable human being finally put off a shining light. I won’t say much now. I’ll let the former NDDC director (Aunty Joy) who did everything possible to stop this from happening talk first, but it still happened. We tried to stop this.”
In a Facebook post titled ‘REST IN PEACE MINISTER OSINACHI!’, Pastor Chioma Ibezim Ph.D at Singles & Married Int’l said: “The very first time I hosted this Angel, God opened her up to me like a television, and she wept like a baby as she confirmed all and said even much more. She opened up to me and hid absolutely nothing. She confided in me till last week. I just don’t want to talk! She died prematurely! It could have been averted. The wickedness was so much. She died in silence. She decided to endure the abuse, the pain and now DEATH! I begged, I pleaded, I counselled, but her “NICE HEART” kept enduring the abuse thinking it will be better rather it got worse. I could not go contrary to her wish as a counsellor. She wanted absolute privacy trusting God to help her and now death. I have not slept all day! I have said it, NOBODY SHOULD EVER STAY IN AN ABUSIVE MARRIAGE. FORGET WHAT PEOPLE WILL SAY, THEY ARE NOT YOU. YOU HAVE TO SAVE YOU FIRST. I AM SO SAD!
Sunny Pee, the late singer’s producer revealed that he had told the late singer to leave the marriage several times but she always made excuses for her husband. He tweeted: “So much to say about this unfortunate situation but this space is not the right place!! I’ve personally told this woman to leave this marriage but she kept making excuses for the monster!”
He revealed that not only was Osinachi’s husband collecting all the money she made from her music ministry, she didn’t want her husband to know about the last song they were recording.
“The last time I told her to leave the marriage, she asked me to help her talk to her Pastor which was difficult for me because I don’t have a relationship with him! Before you say why didn’t we say it early, you can’t help a person who’s not ready to be helped! Mrs Osinachi Nwachukwu is an example of a typical Nigerian woman who always feel it’s their responsibility to make a marriage work even when their life is at risk! God rest her soul”, he tweeted.
In this regard, many Nigerians have taken to various social media platforms to speak vehemently against domestic violence. One of such is preacher and author, Pastor Funke Felix-Adejumo. She had taken to her Instagram page (ffadejumo) to say: “Women!!!! The covenant of life is superior to the covenant of marriage”. In a later Instagram live video, the preacher speaking from Zambia (where she is currently ministering) said “you are a human being first, before you are a wife, a mother or a sister so ‘you’ are very important. Refuse to stay in an abusive relationship”.
Veteran actress Patience Ozokwo (@patienceozokwo) posted “What a blessing, what a loss. Osinachi Nwachukwu ga Nke Oma. May God protect and keep the children you left behind; may justice prevail”.
The late singer aged 42 died in an Abuja hospital allegedly from throat cancer. However, all day, contradictory reports have surfaced from various quarters as to the true cause of death.
She had four children and was a lead chorister at Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Abuja. The gospel singer shot into the limelight with the hit gospel song, “Ekwueme”, which she did with Prospa Ochimana.
Osinachi’s family is yet to speak.
