- Reverend Jesse Jackson was a Civil Rights leader in the United States (US).
- He also ran for the US presidency twice and credited him paving the way for the first Black president in the country.
- He passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 84.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to the late Reverend Jesse Jackson, describing him as a servant-leader who captured the global imagination in the fight for racial justice and human dignity.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that, in a statement released on Tuesday following Jackson’s death, Tinubu said he joined “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.”
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The Nigerian leader, who was pictured with the deceased during a book launch at the Rainbow Push coalition, reflected on Jackson’s decades-long commitment to civil rights, recalling how the reverend worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. as a young activist, fighting for the dignity of black people, the oppressed and the voiceless in the United States and across the world.
Tinubu noted that whilst Jackson built a career as a preacher and political organiser, he became “a national and global icon, demanding improved social and economic conditions for African-Americans.”
He added that Jackson and other compatriots “carried on the unfinished business of Martin Luther King Jnr in the noble fight for racial justice in the United States.”
Drawing on his personal experience, Tinubu revealed that he had witnessed Jackson’s activism first-hand during his student days in the US in the 1970s.
“I lived in Chicago, the same city where Reverend Jackson fought the most important battles against injustice and all forms of discrimination,” the president said.
He described how Jackson, “as a faithful servant of God and humanity, pointed the arc of American society to the great promise of the American dream.”
Tinubu also highlighted Jackson’s significant role in paving the way for Barack Obama’s historic election as America’s first black president in 2008. He explained that Obama’s achievement was possible because “Reverend Jackson and his fellow activists did not relent in their march for justice, reminding America of its values and creed.”
The president noted that it was Jackson “who first inflicted the cracks on the ceiling” when he ran for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 1984 and again in 1988, long before Obama broke through that barrier.
Beyond American politics, the Nigerian leader emphasised Jackson’s deep connection to Africa and his unwavering support for the continent’s struggles.
“Reverend Jackson was a great friend of Nigeria and Africa,” Tinubu said, adding that he was “a moral voice and a formidable resistance to apartheid in South Africa.”
He praised Jackson’s leading role in the campaign for Nelson Mandela’s release from prison and his efforts to win support for sanctions against the apartheid government. Tinubu also recalled how Jackson stood in defence of human rights during Nigeria’s military dictatorship, working to restore democratic rule.
The president noted that Jackson served as Special Envoy to Nigeria and Africa under President Bill Clinton in 1997 and 1999, promoting civil liberties and advancing democracy and good governance across the continent. He also helped connect African leaders with the Congressional Black Caucus to promote Africa’s interests in Washington.
Reflecting on Jackson’s enduring legacy, President Tinubu said the reverend “lived a remarkable life as a strong voice for the universal ideals of justice and human progress.” He noted that even as age and illness took their toll, Jackson’s voice continued to resonate, urging people “never to stop fighting for what is right and never to lose faith in humanity.”
FURTHER READING
Quoting one of Jackson’s most famous rallying cries, the president said Jackson wanted everyone to “keep hope alive.”
Click to watch the video of the week below:
