President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has joined global leaders and the people of the United States in mourning the death of renowned civil rights leader and Baptist minister, Reverend Jesse Jackson, describing him as “a servant-leader whose lifelong struggle for justice reshaped America and inspired democratic movements across Africa and the world.”
In a condolence message released on Tuesday, President Tinubu said Reverend Jackson, who passed away at 84, dedicated his life to the dignity of Black people, the oppressed, and the voiceless, alongside other champions of racial justice, including the late Martin Luther King Jr.
The President noted that, while Reverend Jackson earned recognition as a preacher and political organiser, he rose to global prominence through his relentless advocacy for improved social and economic conditions for African-Americans, carrying forward the unfinished work of the civil rights movement in the United States.
“Reverend Jackson played a defining role in American political history,” President Tinubu said, highlighting that his presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 helped open political space that eventually led to the election of Barack Obama as the first Black President of the United States.
Recalling his own experience as a student in Chicago during the 1970s, the President said he personally witnessed Reverend Jackson’s tireless fight against injustice and discrimination, describing him as “a faithful servant of God and humanity who helped bend American society towards the promise of its democratic ideals.”
Also Read: President Tinubu Pays Tribute to Late Oba Badagry
President Tinubu also emphasised Reverend Jackson’s strong connections to Nigeria and the African continent, noting that he consistently promoted civil liberties, democracy, and good governance, while facilitating engagement between African leaders and the United States Congressional Black Caucus to advance Africa’s interests.
He further praised Jackson’s role in the global campaign against apartheid in South Africa, including his advocacy for the release of Nelson Mandela and other African National Congress leaders, and his support for international sanctions against the apartheid regime.
During Nigeria’s years of military rule, President Tinubu recalled, Reverend Jackson stood firmly for human rights and the restoration of democracy, serving as Special Envoy to Nigeria and Africa under former United States President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 1999.
Describing the late leader as “a moral voice for universal justice whose influence transcended borders,” President Tinubu added that even in old age and declining health, Reverend Jackson’s message of hope and human dignity continued to inspire generations worldwide.
