**PRESS RELEASE**
*Calls to Stop the Dangerous Wonde Society Initiation in Fakunya Chiefdom Now!!!!*
A brewing state of constitutional siege is gathering in Gbangbama, a town in Fakunya Chiefdom in Moyamba District.
The town is being prepared to host the Wonde Society with dangerous laws which if imposed, would not only suspend the constitution of Sierra Leone in operation in the affected area but also affect the human rights of others especially men that are opposed to the idea and women that are taking legal actions against some members of the cult for what they termed as “attempt to silence them”.
The alleged suspects of trying to impose this initiation are the sacked former Local Government Minister and later Attorney General Anthony Brewah and his backed-embattled Paramount Chief of Fakunya Chiefdom, PC Samuel Hindovei Bengah.
Mr. Brewah is reported to be the head of the Wonde Society in Sierra Leone and had backed Chief Bengeh during the disputed Fakunya Chieftaincy race between PC Samuel Hindovei Bengeh and Janet Mamie Ngakui, said to be the real heir to the Chieftaincy of Fakunya Chiefdom. By chance, he won a controversial election over Janet Mamie Ngakui but the latter had challenged him in a petition brought against him in the Moyamba High Court over legitimacy, which matter is still undecided. Therefore opponents of PC Bengeh opined that on no account does he have the right to impose any initiation of the Wonde in Fakunya against the rights of others because he is being petitioned in court and must wait on all activities or suspend them untill further notice a verdict is passed.
PC Samuel Hindovei Bengeh was unreached but sources closer to him in Moyamba confided in #SheStands that he advised against going ahead with the initiation but a defiant Brewah has assured him of safety and security as the move is supported by others and besides he has other authorities hands on it.
This was not confirmed, but sources further said both Mr. Brewah and PC Bengeh may not be acting in the interest of the people and the government especially when a moratorium on such activities is in force, and he (Bengeh) had called on the President to help settle his disputes with his people in the Chiefdom which is proof of the claims of Janet Mamie Ngakui that he’s being petitioned and should suspend such activities like the Wonde initiation in the Chiefdom.
Our sources have further revealed that the leaders will meet at Kimbima Hotel on Friday 29th November to take a final decision on the matter while preparations are ongoing in Gbangbama, Janet Mamie Ngakui’s home town, where the bush was already being cleared and built directly opposite her house as a way of taunting and targeting her and family during the festivities.
The dangerous laws earlier spoken about will affect other women aside Janet Mamie Ngakui. One such law is that women cannot cry in any village if their children or a relative dies in the village. Also the movements of people are restricted while suspicion of intimidation against opponents is widely rumoured by many.
Touched by these medley of concerns, #SheStands, being a gender and governance Organisation working with women to address Under-Representation in all walks of life and to occupy the civic space, calls on the government of President Julius Maada Bio to intervene with immediate effect and save the innocent people of not only Gbangbama but Fakunya Chiefdom from the intention of the initiators of the Wonde Society.
#SheStands upholds the value of culture and respects the Wonde Society as a valuable and rich cultural heritage of the Mende and Kissi people of the South and East of Sierra Leone. It believes that the culture creates a transition period of young Mende and Kissi boys into adulthood through the strict initiation rules and other disciplines they will go through a period of time to be real men in society. However, we are also aware that the timing and circumstances under which it is to take place at this moment are not only wrong but consequential.
Last but not the least, we value the rights of women to be protected and guaranteed at all times and everywhere by the State. Therefore we invoke GEWE to be considered at this time and call on the First Lady to raise voice in protecting Janet Mamie Ngakui, her family and those Innocent women that will suffer of these rules if initiation takes place.
#SheStands
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