President Bola Tinubu has mourned the passing 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 said he joined “the rest of the world and the people of the United States of America” in grieving Jackson, who died at the age of 84.
The President highlighted Jackson’s decades-long contribution to 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,” Tinubu stated.
Reflecting on Jackson’s political influence, Tinubu credited him with helping to reshape America’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,” the President said.
Tinubu also acknowledged Jackson’s historic presidential bids, saying, “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.”
Recalling his personal connection to Jackson’s activism, Tinubu added, “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 also praised Jackson’s support for Africa, particularly his opposition to apartheid in South Africa and his efforts toward 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.
Highlighting Jackson’s engagement with Nigeria, Tinubu noted, “During the dark era of military dictatorship in Nigeria, Reverend Jackson stood in defence of human rights and the restoration of democratic rule.”
He further recalled Jackson’s service as a Special Envoy to Nigeria and Africa, appointed by former U.S. President Bill Clinton.
On Jackson’s enduring legacy, Tinubu stated, “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 President concluded by praying for the peaceful repose of the late civil rights leader’s soul.
