Tinubu Pays Tribute to Rev. Jesse Jackson, Hailing Him as A Steadfast Advocate for Justice
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has joined world leaders in mourning the death of American civil
rights icon Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., praising him as a global symbol of justice, equality and
human dignity whose life and work inspired movements for liberation and human rights across the
world.
In a condolence message released on Tuesday, Tinubu described Jackson, who died at the age of 84, as a servant-leader and moral voice whose decades-long activism captured the world’s imagination in the
struggle for racial justice and human rights.
He said Jackson’s commitment to defending the dignity of black people, the oppressed and the voiceless extended far beyond the United States and resonated globally.
“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 in the statement.
He noted Jackson’s close association with the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the significant sacrifices
he made in the fight for equality and democratic rights.
The president also highlighted Jackson’s enduring influence on Africa’s democratic journeys, recalling his support for struggles against apartheid in South Africa and his advocacy for democratic governance on the continent.
Tinubu said Jackson’s legacy of hope, resilience and moral courage will continue to inspire generations
of leaders and activists.
“He was a servant-leader who dedicated his life to fighting for the dignity of Black people, the
oppressed, and the voiceless in the United States and around the world,” Tinubu added.
He prayed for Jackson’s soul to rest in peace and extended condolences to his family, the people of the
United States and all those touched by his work.
Reverend Jackson’s passing elicited tributes from global leaders, activists and organisations who
celebrated his role in expanding civil and human rights, challenging injustice, and mobilising millions in
the pursuit of equality.
By Oyinkansola Shittu.
