President Bola Tinubu has mourned the death of American civil rights leader, Reverend Jesse Jackson, describing him as a global symbol of justice, equality, and human dignity.
In a condolence message issued on Tuesday, Tinubu joined “the rest of the world and the people of the United States of America” in grieving the passing of the veteran activist and Baptist preacher, who died at the age of 84.
Tinubu paid tribute to Jackson’s decades-long role in the struggle for racial justice, noting his close association with Martin Luther King Jr. and the broader civil rights movement.
“Reverend Jackson was a servant-leader who captured the global imagination as a young activist, alongside Martin Luther King Jr., fighting for the dignity of black people, the oppressed, and the voiceless,” the President said.
He acknowledged Jackson’s influence in American political life, crediting him with helping to reshape the country’s social and democratic landscape.
“If Barack Obama became the first Black American president, it was because Reverend Jackson and his fellow activists did not relent in their march for justice,” Tinubu stated.
Reflecting on Jackson’s presidential bids, Tinubu described them as historic milestones that challenged racial barriers in American politics.
“When Barack Obama broke the glass ceiling as the first Black President in America, it was Reverend Jackson who first inflicted the cracks on the ceiling in 1984 and again in 1988 when he offered himself as a Democratic Party presidential contender,” he said.
Tinubu also recalled his personal connection to Jackson’s activism, referencing his time as a student in Chicago during the 1970s.
“I witnessed firsthand how, as a faithful servant of God and humanity, he pointed the arc of American society to the great promise of the American dream,” the President noted.
Highlighting Jackson’s ties to Africa, Tinubu described the cleric as “a great friend of Nigeria and Africa,” praising his opposition to apartheid in South Africa and support for the release of Nelson Mandela.
“He was a moral voice and a formidable resistance to apartheid. He played a leading role in the campaign for the release from prison of Nelson Mandela and other African National Congress leaders,” Tinubu said.
The President further recalled Jackson’s involvement in Nigeria’s political history, particularly during the years of military rule.
“During the dark era of military dictatorship in Nigeria, Reverend Jackson stood in defence of human rights and the restoration of democratic rule,” he said, adding that Jackson served as Special Envoy appointed by Bill Clinton to Nigeria and Africa.
Tinubu praised Jackson’s enduring message of hope and resilience, saying his legacy would continue to inspire generations.
“Reverend Jackson lived a remarkable life as a strong voice for the universal ideals of justice and human progress… He wanted us to ‘keep hope alive’,” the statement read.
He concluded by praying for the peaceful repose of the late activist’s soul.
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