A surprising and emotional twist has emerged following the death of former First Lady Nancy B. Doe, as Veronica Mamie Doe, the daughter of slain former President Samuel K. Doe, has returned funeral gifts made by former President George M. Weah to the Doe family.
The returned items include two cows, fifty bags of rice, and a cash amount of US$5,000. The symbolic gesture, carried out Monday morning, was described by Veronica Doe as a matter of principle, rooted in her mother’s unfulfilled requests during her final years.
According to Ms. Doe, her mother had asked then-President Weah to ensure her brother remained employed at the National Port Authority, improve the benefit structure for former First Ladies, among other personal appeals. But Weah allegedly ignored those requests while he served in the Executive Mansion.
“Don’t pretend to care about her in death when you didn’t listen to her in life,” Ms. Doe implied in a strongly worded Facebook post shortly after the former First Lady’s passing. The post triggered a social media storm and inflamed long-standing political tensions.
Since Mrs. Doe’s death, supporters of former President Weah and some members of the Doe family have been engaged in a back-and-forth of accusations and counterclaims online and offline. The situation escalated ahead of burial preparations, leading to Ms. Doe’s rejection of Weah’s contribution.
Despite the tension, former President Weah paid a visit to the Doe family residence on Sunday, where he was warmly received by elders of Grand Gedeh County, homeland of the Doe family. There, the former Liberian leader was hailed as “Our Rescuer” by traditional leaders and elders, who downplayed the ongoing controversy.
“Y’all shouldn’t let those people put problem between me and you people. I am y’all son. The love that we share is real,” Weah said during his visit, urging unity and brushing off the criticism.
Whether Ms. Doe’s actions were justified is now the subject of fierce debate. Some see her return of the gifts as a bold stand for accountability and sincerity, insisting that honoring a deceased person’s wishes is more important than public displays of generosity after the fact. Others argue that death and grief should not be politicized and that Weah’s contribution, however late, should have been accepted in good faith.
For many Liberians, the event has reopened wounds from past leadership transitions and once again highlighted how unresolved personal grievances can echo into public and political spheres.
