President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mourned the death of American civil rights leader and Baptist preacher, Jesse Jackson, describing him as a great friend of Nigeria and Africa.
Reverend Jackson died on Tuesday at the age of 84.
In a condolence message, President Tinubu said he joined people across the world and the United States in mourning the passing of what he described as a servant-leader whose life was devoted to justice, equality, and human dignity.
“Reverend Jesse Jackson was a servant-leader who captured the global imagination as a young activist, alongside civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., fighting for the dignity of black people, the oppressed, and the voiceless in the United States and across the world,” the president said.
Tinubu noted that Jackson was a strong moral voice against apartheid in South Africa, recalling his role in mobilising international support for sanctions against the apartheid regime and campaigning for the release of Nelson Mandela and other African National Congress leaders.
According to the president, Jackson also played a significant role in Nigeria’s struggle for democracy 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,” Tinubu said.
He added that Jackson served as a Special Envoy to Nigeria and Africa in 1997 and 1999, appointed by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, and used the position to promote civil liberties, democracy, and good governance across the continent.
Tinubu said the late cleric helped strengthen ties between African leaders and the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus, advancing Africa’s interests in Washington.
“Reverend Jackson lived a remarkable life as a strong voice for the universal ideals of justice and human progress,” the president said. “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 prayed for the repose of Jackson’s soul and extended condolences to his family, associates, and admirers around the world.
