“As a student in the United States in the 1970s, I lived in Chicago, the same city where Reverend Jackson fought the most important battles against injustice.
“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-” Pres. Tinubu
By Olawale Lamina
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday joined other world leaders and the citizens of the United States (U.S.) to pay tributes to the civil rights activist and preacher, Reverend Jesse Jackson who passed on at 84 years.
The family, led by his daughter, Santita, announced the passing of the civil rights activist and Baptist preacher said that their patriarch died peacefully on Tuesday.
In a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, President Tinubu described Rev. Jesse Jackson, as a servant-leader who captured global imagination as a young activist, side by side with civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr.
Tinubu noted that Rev Jackson stood for the dignity of black people, the oppressed and the voiceless in the United States and other parts of the world.
According to Nigeria’s President, late Jackson became a national and global icon who demanded improved social and economic conditions for African-Americans, noting particularly that Jackson continued the unfinished work of Martin Luther King Jr. in the struggle for racial fairness.
Tinubu said: “As a student in the United States in the 1970s, I lived in Chicago, the same city where Reverend Jackson fought the most important battles against injustice,” he said.
“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.”
Tinubu hailed Jackson for being influential in American politics and global affairs, stating that the activist made room for Barack Obama’s emergence as the first Black American president.
He recalled that, “When Barack Obama broke the glass ceiling as the first Black President in America, it was Rev. Jackson who first inflicted the cracks on the ceiling in 1984 and again in 1988.”
The president acknowledged Jackson as a great friend of Nigeria and Africa and also a formidable voice against apartheid in South Africa and noting that Jackson played a leading role in campaigns for the release of Nelson Mandela and other African National Congress (ANC) leaders.
He concluded his tribute by praising the departed for defending human rights and democratic rule during Nigeria’s era of military dictatorship.
The President said that Jackson served as Special Envoy appointed by President Bill Clinton to Nigeria and Africa in 1997 and 1999.
What other world leaders are saying
President Donald Trump of the United States has paid a glowing tribute to Rev. Jackson, describing him as a “good man” in a social media post.
He said Jackson was “very gregarious” and had known him over many decades.”
Tribute by Barrack Obama
Barack Obama, the first African-American U.S. president, in his tribute to Jackson credited the civil rights leader for laying the foundation for his own successful presidential run and added that he and his wife, Michelle Obama, “stand on his shoulders”.
The former president said: “Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of a true giant, the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
“For more than 60 years, Reverend Jackson helped lead some of the most significant movements for change in human history. From organising boycotts and sit-ins, to registering millions of voters, to advocating for freedom and democracy around the world, he was relentless in his belief that we are all children of God, deserving of dignity and respect.
“Michelle and I will always be grateful for Jesse’s lifetime of service, and the friendship our families share. We stood on his shoulders. We send our deepest condolences to the Jackson family and everyone in Chicago and beyond who knew and loved him.”
Former President Bill Clinton and wife Hillary
The couple also shared a tribute to the late Jackson, stating they are “deeply saddened” by his death as they outline they have been friends for “almost fifty years” since meeting in 1977.
“From his early days working with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr; to his founding of the organisations now united as Rainbow/PUSH; to his efforts to free innocents and promote fair elections around the globe, Reverend Jackson championed human dignity and helped create opportunities for countless people to live better lives,” the statement reads.
French President Macron
In a post on X, Macron joined world leaders in sharing tributes to Rev. Jackson, referring to him as “a tireless promoter for civil rights. ” He pointed out that Jackson worked to defend peace, justice and fraternity.
Recall that the French president awarded Jackson a Légion d’Honneur in 2021 for his work in the civil rights movement and campaigning for peace and justice.
...Some of Rev. Jackson’s brilliant moments and achievements
included the fact that he scored diplomatic victories with world leaders and, through his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, he chanelled cries for black pride and self-determination into corporate boardrooms, pressing executives to increase diversity.
Jackson continued protesting against racial injustice into the era of Black Lives Matter even as his health began to fail.
The veteran rights crusader made history when he stood for the White House in 1984 and 1988. He was not the first African American to seek the U.S. presidency, but he was the first to mount a serious challenge, breaking through racial barriers, securing millions of votes and, at one point, becoming frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. His run opened the way for Barack Obama two decades later.
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