By: Bola Sobola
Nigerians on Friday, April 8th, 2022, woke up with the news of the death of the popular gospel singer, Mrs Osinachi Nwachukwu who reportedly died due to domestic violence meted out on her by her husband. The scenario that led to her untimely demise was an act of domestic violence which was globally viewed as barbaric character that should not be found among humans. Experts defined
Domestic Violence as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is being used by one partner to gain or maintain control over another intimate partner.
As a matter of fact, domestic violence can either be in form of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, economic abuse, psychological abuse among others. Findings showed that incessant report of gender based violence against women has become a global pandemic affecting 1 in 3 women in their lifetime.The numbers are staggering at thirty five of women worldwide experiencing either physical and or sexual violence.
Globally,7percent of women have been sexually assaulted other than a partner. Many of thirty eight percent of murders of women are committed by an intimate partner.
More than 640 million women aged fifteen and older have been subjected to intimate partners violence.
In 2018, an estimated 1 in 7 women had experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner or husband and the figure keeps increasing yearly, without any meaningful way out.
A psychologist in University of Toronto, Brian Baker said, 'the choice of a spouse is one of the most significant you will make in life, it is more serious than choosing a house or anything'.
This is not to say that men also do not experience domestic violence,we have heard of some women beating up their partners and we have seen some men going into depression aagjlkbecause of their wives' maltreatment.But findings revealed that, domestic violence is more prevalent in women .
There are many causes of domestic violence, which include; financial crisis, infidelity, unsubmissiveness, misconception of issues, lack of trust and so on.
And when we consider the sudden death of the 'Ekwueme' crooner, sister Osinachi came as a shock and also acted as eye opener to so many women in the society, even as revelation started emerging as what led to her death.
On the front burner is the fact that she has been threading on the part the killer of married known as Domestic Violence, as her husband who acted as her manager, had long being abusing her, lock her up for weeks in the house and deny her access to people.
Another real life example was Mrs Chinyere Ogudoro, who left the shores of this country for ten years in order to find solace due to maltreatment from her husband, on her return, she met her untimely death, as she was burnt to death alongside her younger brother by her husband.
Domestic Violence has for long affected many families with devastating consequences.
Some of the effects are: unrest and lack of peace in the family, which can hinder the children's performance in school,and could also send a wrong signal to children about life or wrong perception about marriage among others. It
can also lead to the death of one of the partners if the crisis is not well managed on time.
Considering this disturbing trends, several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), have come up with legal support and care to victims of domestic violence, since most victims of domestic violence may not have the willingness or resources to pursue justice.
These governmental Organisations like CLEEN foundation and ACTS stand in for them.CLEEN foundation has a special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations in New York for public safety and security.
We need to take drastic steps in order to avoid unexpected happenings, society needs to encourage women to speak out whenever they are in an abusive relationship.
Churches and Mosques must also take the issues of domestic violence seriously, clerics must not hide under doctrine in dealing with this cankerworm that is eating up the life of almost every woman.
The Bible says husbands should love their wives, wives should also should submit to their husbands, but what we are experiencing today is vice versa, some husbands are having extra marital affairs while wives are asking whether submission is subjugation, thereby brewing more chaotic relationship at home.
If husbands and wives should follow the laws of Holy Books that calls for exhibition of true love between the two lovers if it is followed accordingly, there will be peaceful co-existence at home and this will showcase a well nurtured children for a better society.
The Ogun State Government has not rested on its oars at ensuring peaceful co- existence across homes in the state by prohibiting any act of abusive violence. More so, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development also put place sensitisation programmes and create many platforms to promote wellbeing and wellness among husbands and wives at home with the warning to punish perpetrators of any domestic abuse or violence from any of partners in accordance with the rules of law.
Parts of efforts of the state government at promoting domestic harmony was the collaboration
to empower women through a Federal Government empowerment initiative programme with the World Bank to empower more women and alleviate poverty. Although some experts concluded that, poverty is also one of the main challenges affecting peaceful co- existence at home.
The programme was to empower women in the society and to boost their financial status to avert laziness and adutrous activities, as the saying implies that an 'idle mind is a devil's workshop'.So, if women are engaged with different trades,they will be bouyant and give their support towards home building that will result to real nation development.
The programme was aimed at eradicating violence at home, as it is believed that when women are financially stable, they will psycologically be stable with less abusing engagement with their husbands. As Frequent abusing characters often lead to fighting and violence due to worsening finacial conditions but when there is financial support for a women she will be progressive in her thought and aim at enlarging her business and improving her finances.
It is noteworthy to say that there is nothing like a, solid marriage build on trust and love. Findings showed globally that irrespective of a good marriage there will still be element of misunderstanding, but what matters most is the ability to manage crisis between the two partners through proper communication, maturity to amicably iron out issues without resulting to violence. If about 85 percent of families are founded on trust, love and mutual understanding it will lead to breeding of good and responsible children who will uphold good morals and promote communal wellbeing to attain a glorious society.
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