THE MARTYRDOM OF OSINACHI

The Bible is still being written. After the Acts of the Apostles, then came Revelations. After Revelations two books are being written simultaneously today. They are Hymns and the Acts of the Disciples - New Testament psalms and the testimony of the saints. When they would be compiled and canonized Osinachi would stand out as a martyr of our day. Who for the testimony of the gospel endured a horrendous marriage and paid the ultimate price. 

Listening to her mother's account of this marriage as recounted on the BBC Igbo Platform, I was shocked at such a daylight parade of evil. As I pieced together all facts and stories of this grim tale, I could not but be at a loss for words.

Peter Nwachukwu her husband is indeed a disgrace to Chtistendom, Igbo race and to christian husbandhood. Since I was young and now getting old I have never seen such a wicked avatar.

Yet, I see God in it all. Osinachi was born twin with Amarachi. Both were anointed from the womb to lead the people of God in worship. Howbeit, Osinachi hit the limelight before her twin sister. But the devil in a grand scheme set out to stop that ministry and laid a mine in her path through planting a man with a negative mission to truncate that assignment. Right from the get go, Peter Nwachukwu bared his fangs, but the lady and her family were too trusting to see the serpent slithering under Osinachi's skirts.

The agent ranted and raved. He threatened fire and brimstone. He becane a dragon in the dark and a dove by day. And our sister lived in hell. But through it all she kept on smiling, kept on believing that God would bring a change in her man, and kept on giving joy to believers. It didn't matter to her that she would descend into a dungeon of assault and battery after each ministration. But she kept on pushing, not knowing which day would be her last.

Very few women have been so blessed. Osinachi had elegance and poise. She was one whose nightingale voice would wake up dead spirits. Blessed with a quiver full of fruits of the womb - three sons and a daughter. She brought home resources like a lioness with sleek haunting skills to feed her whelps. Qualities that could melt even the heart of Belzebob.

Yet!!! 

He denied her the fruit of her labour as he would strip her of her honouraria after every round of performance. . He denied her the love of her mother. He denied her the warmth of her children, the campany of her twin sister and the Fellowship of her family. Poor Osinachi became alone in the milling crowd.

Indeed, the devil may deign to celebrate a mission accomplished. But he struck too late. Osinachi did not lead her graces to the grave for she left the world bright shining copies. Lively children, and a catalog of Christian song hits. Not only these, she prophetcally handed the torch on that memorable day when she and Amarachi ministered together for the first time in Dunamis. She vested her twin her star power. 

While the duo were standing on tbe dais before the throng of saints, she looked transfixed and was levitated into a trance with tears streaming down. Thus testified Amarachi who had picked up the lines while Osinachi was transfigured. That was the day Osinachi handed over.

She left a legacy of Christian faith and a twin sister who would carry on with her unfinished work. "Ekwueme¶" would continue to resonate from villages to cities and from seas to the shining sea. The gate of hell shall never prevail. And the glow from your songs would illuminate hearts, lift up spirits and bless souls. And wherever the testimony of your glorious life would be spoken of, simultaneously would the inglorious account of mean-spirited spouses be told. As the bell of your life tolled, it sent forth the chiming ring of liberty into marriages held together under the bondage of wicked spouses and we all have a duty to let that freedom ring into every family and every household. 

Sister Osinachi! You indeed ran a good race. Adieu our song bird. Your incident may have have spun many judges and analysts. Many may even seek to use your case to cover up their rebellion. But you have moved on in victory with impeccable testimony. That's what matters. Adieu our song bird. Rest on God's minstrel.

Uzodinma Cosmas