Home » Doe’s family divided over Weah’s gift

Doe’s family divided over Weah’s gift

The family of former President Samuel Doe appears to be divided over a condolence gift president by former President George Weah-two cows, rice, and LRD1 million in a show of sympathy for the loss of former First Lady Nancy B. Doe.

By: Emmanuel Wise Jipoh

Monrovia, June 9, 2025: The division comes amidst debate over the acceptance of the gifts, hours after it was returned by one of the daughters of the late president.

The bereaved Family had scattered the condolence gifts as some members had resisted the return of the gift to its owner, calling for peace during their time of bereavement, while others had rampage that they didn’t need such a gift from an individual who had neglected their mother when she was alive.

Mr. Weah, on Sunday, June 8, 2025, led an array of former officials to pay homage and sympathize to the bereaved family, while presenting a gift of 50 bags rof ice, two cows, and 5,000 United States dollars as a gesture and sympathies to the bereaved Family, through their sadden time.

Mr. Weah had overcome weeks of criticism and mustered the courage to go and console the family, extending an olive branch, while calling for unity among southeasterners.

Mr. Weah had come under the spotlight as he was smashed by Doe’s daughter, Veronica Mamie Doe, for what she describes as hypocrisy shown by Mr. Weah and the neglect of her mother when she needed him most.

Veronica had vowed that the former President, who was once touted as a son of Doe, should come nowhere near her mother’s funeral activities.

But Weah, in the aftermath, had extended peace and said there is no reason to justify his relationship with the falling former Liberian First Lady.

“Do not let People divide us, we are one family, and every Liberian is my family. So, do not let people deceive you to cause confusion among us. We are all one family.

And there is no need to justify how I treated our mother, but I know I treated her with respect and honor,” Mr. Weah said in his console, while presenting a gift to the bereaved family.

But the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) leader’s gift was met with a counter reaction early Monday, after being immediately returned to his party’s headquarters by Veronica.

In her aggression, Mamie Doe reiterated that the family does not need the gift from the former President.

“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 statement, while returning the gift at the CDC compound, a situation that has triggered a social media and inflamed long-standing political tension.

But a few hours after the emotional twist on the return of the gift to the former President, some family members extended apologies to Mr. Weah, asking that the gift be returned to the home of the bereaved family.

Dr. Isaac Nyenebo, liaison between Doe’s family and visiting sympathizers, expressed regret and formally accepted the gift on behalf of the family.

“In every given situation, there is misunderstanding, but this under resolution already, you know, when a leader dies, there’s this form of misunderstanding. But at the end of the day, we all come together to have a befitting burial of our mother,” Dr. Nyenebo said after the gifts were returned.

He gave assurance that despite the pulling and hauling between rejection and acceptance of the condolence package from Mr. Weah, the Doe’s family had resolved to accept the gift.

“You know all of us are disturbed by the departure of our mother. But in every family, you have elders, and people listen to their elders. We are resolved to give our mother a befitting burial,” he added.

But in a late drama, Veronica has asked that the gist be returned for the second time.

“I’m the elder daughter of this family, and in consultation with my siblings, we have agreed that the gift be returned to Mr. Weah.

During his presentation, there were choice of words he made that didn’t go down well with us, plus all that he has done to our mother.  I personally returned the gift, and I’m not aware that these items have been brought back,” she said.

“And right now, as I Speak, it will be taken away. It doesn’t belong here,” Mamie Doe said.

“Mr. Weah never showed concern for our mother when she was alive. Now that she’s gone, he wants to make a gesture. We see that as dishonest and ungrateful,” Mamie Doe continued.

The family has long maintained that the late Nancy B. Doe, widow of former President Samuel K. Doe, was denied her rightful benefits as a former First Lady during Mr. Weah’s administration, a matter they say remains unresolved.

Meanwhile, the rejected cows have since been accepted by some family members and taken to Grand Gedeh. Edited by Othello B. Garblah.