His
story runs like a novel; shocking and unbelievable. But it is real and
never imagined. Winner of the maiden edition of Destiny Child Gospel reality TV
show, Israel Osunsanmi recently came to term with the saying that blood is
thicker than water.
This is so, because on a day the world gathered
to celebrate him as the star winner of the gospel reality show, the unexpected
happened. Young Israel had a cause to meet his biological father for the
first time in his lifetime while on stage.
Until the
grand finale of the reality show, 30 year-old Israel has never had any contact
with his father. But on that fateful day, the man who sent his mother
packing while she was two months pregnant suddenly emerged to share
in his joy.
Narrating his ordeal to NEWSMEN, Israel, an OND
Business Administration graduate of the Osun State Polytechnic, declared that
he has since forgiven his father, even though his mother’s ordeal really
affected his growing up. “I have forgiven him and the relationship is
gradually picking up,” he said.
According to him, his ordeal started when his
father impregnated his mother’s best friend a month before their wedding. His
mother’s attempt to confront his father got her a knock on the head, as the
latter consequently threw her with her two-months pregnancy out of his
house in order to marry her friend.
Israel disclosed that if not for God’s mercies,
he wouldn’t have made it to this world as his mum attempted about 10
times to abort the pregnancy but without any success.
He narrates, “I will be 30 this month. I’m from
a polygamous family, and I’m the only child of my mother. I took to gospel
music because of my story. My life is a big story. My dad sent my mother
packing when she was 2-months pregnant. That was when my struggles started
in life. It was myself and my mum alone in the world. But I’m alive today. That
alone gave me the inspiration that it was God that kept me alive.
And it is
God, I must live without blemish, and if I do anything wrong, God is going to
take away this life that he has given to me. That’s why I can’t do anything
without God. And this is why many people today call me ‘ Church Boy’ because
I’m always spending my time in the Church. There was a time, I wanted to go
astray, when I was singing in clubs, and other hangouts, but God in his
infinite mercies redirected my steps.”
Narrating how he was able to reunite with his
father. he disclosed that one of his father’s sisters made it
possible. “We got hooked up on facebook early last year. In the cause of
our discussion, I invited her to the grand finale of the show.
Fortunately, she decided to attend the event in the company of his
father. She was trying to connect with the Osunsanmis online.
She saw my telephone number and immediately
gave me a call. That was how we started getting closer. When it was
a week to the finals of the reality show, I invited her to represent my
family. But she told me she was going to attend the event in the company of my
father. I welcomed the idea. That was it. The mistake I made was
telling the producer that my dad was around and that, I was meeting him
for the first time in my life. Overwhelmed by that news, the Producer invited
him on stage and the reunion was a memorable experience.”
Israel, who won N3 million star prize, including
a brand new Hyundai car said, he would forever remain grateful to God for
this turn around in his life. “My mother is based in Ilorin and could not make
to the grand finale of the show,” he said.
Now married, Israel will be 30 next month.
Before he participated in the competition, he was the Head,
Directorate of Media and Logistics, at TREM in Abuja.
The show producer, Mrs. Uche Esharetury
disclosed, she was inspired to do this project because of her passion for
gospel music. “Looking at the Nigerian music industry, we realise most of these
artistes discovered their talent from the church, participating in choirs and
others right from their youth. They were certified as gifted musicians, but the
absence of potential sponsorship deprived them opportunities in gospel music. Hence,
the subscription to secular music which attracts sponsorship based on its
so-cietal acceptance”, Esharetury said.
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