President Bola Tinubu has mourned the renowned civil rights icon and Baptist preacher, Reverend Jesse Jackson, describing him as a servant-leader, activist, defender of human rights and a strong voice for the universal ideals of justice.
In a tribute issued on Tuesday, the President joined the global community in mourning the passing of the American civil rights leader at the age of 84.
“I join the rest of the world and the people of the United States of America to mourn the passing of civil rights icon and renowned Baptist preacher, Reverend Jesse Jackson, who passed away this morning at the age of 84,” Tinubu said.
He noted that Reverend Jackson captured global attention as a young activist alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., fighting for the dignity of Black people, the oppressed and the voiceless in the United States and beyond.
Although he built a career as a preacher and political organiser, Tinubu said Jackson became a national and global figure who consistently demanded improved social and economic conditions for African-Americans.
According to the President, Jackson carried forward the unfinished struggle of Martin Luther King Jr. in the fight for racial justice in the United States.
Recalling his time as a student in Chicago in the 1970s, Tinubu said he witnessed firsthand the impact of Jackson’s activism in challenging injustice and discrimination.
“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 stated.
Tinubu also credited Jackson’s political engagement with laying important groundwork for the eventual election of former President Barack Obama, noting that Jackson’s presidential bids in 1984 and 1988 helped break longstanding racial barriers in American politics.
The President described Jackson as a great friend of Nigeria and Africa, highlighting his opposition to apartheid in South Africa and his role in advocating for the release of Nelson Mandela and other African National Congress leaders.
He further recalled Jackson’s support for democratic governance in Nigeria during the era of military rule and his appointment as Special Envoy to Nigeria and Africa by former U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1997 and 1999.
“In Nigeria and across Africa, Reverend Jackson promoted civil liberties and advanced the cause of democracy and good governance,” Tinubu said, adding that he also strengthened ties between African leaders and the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus.
Tinubu said Reverend Jackson lived a remarkable life dedicated to justice and human progress, urging people to continue upholding the values he championed.
“Even as age and illness mellowed him, his voice still resonated, urging us never to stop fighting for what is right and never to lose faith in humanity. He wanted us to ‘keep hope alive’,” the President said.
He prayed for the peaceful repose of the late civil rights leader.
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
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