Former First Lady of Liberia, Nancy B. Doe, has vehemently rejected the involvement of Senator Zoe Emmanuel Pennue in the planned memorialization and reburial of her late husband, former President Samuel K. Doe. In a strongly worded statement released on April 3, 2025, Mrs. Doe condemned Senator Pennue’s actions as unauthorized and driven by a “sinister agenda.” She asserted that neither Senator Pennue nor any other individual or group has the right to interfere with the former president’s remains without the explicit consent of herself, her children, and their designated spiritual leader.
Mrs. Doe emphasized that the Doe family, in collaboration with President Joseph Boakai’s administration, is actively working towards a dignified reburial for the late president. She stated that an official reburial date will be announced by the appropriate authorities in due course and warned against any further unauthorized interference by Senator Pennue. The former first lady highlighted the senator’s familial relationship to the late president, noting that he is a nephew through President Doe’s sister, but stressed that this connection does not grant him any authority over family matters, especially concerning the remains of her husband.
The statement painted a picture of long-standing animosity between the Doe family and Senator Pennue. Mrs. Doe accused the senator of relentlessly tormenting her and her children over the years. She cited alleged statements made by Senator Pennue, boasting about preventing a proper burial for the late president, as evidence of his malicious intent. Mrs. Doe expressed outrage at the senator’s involvement in the reburial plans, considering his past hostility and disrespectful pronouncements.
Furthermore, Mrs. Doe demanded that Senator Pennue immediately cease all activities related to her husband’s remains and allow the family, in partnership with the Liberian government, to proceed with the reburial with the dignity and respect befitting a former head of state. She issued a stern warning that any further unauthorized actions by the senator would be met with resolute legal resistance.
The statement underscores the Doe family’s determination to ensure a respectful and honorable final resting place for the late President Doe, free from any manipulation or interference, particularly from Senator Pennue. Mrs. Doe reiterated her commitment to upholding her late husband’s legacy and safeguarding his memory from those she perceives as attempting to exploit it for personal gain or political maneuvering.
The statement concludes with Mrs. Doe’s signature, reaffirming her position as the former First Lady of Liberia and highlighting her role as the protector of her late husband’s legacy. It serves as a public denunciation of Senator Pennue’s involvement and a clear assertion of the Doe family’s authority over the arrangements for the former president’s reburial. The forceful language used throughout the statement reflects the deep emotional weight of the situation and the family’s unwavering resolve to honor the late president according to their own wishes and beliefs.
