What I know about Jesse Jackson – Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to American civil rights leader, Jesse Jackson, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 84, describing him as “a servant-leader who captured the global imagination” and a steadfast champion of justice and human dignity.

In a heartfelt statement issued on 17 February 2026, the President 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”.

“Reverend 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,” Tinubu stated.

The Nigerian leader noted that although Jackson built his career as “a preacher and active political organiser”, he rose to become “a national and global icon, demanding improved social and economic conditions for African-Americans”.

He added that Jackson, “along with other compatriots, carried on the unfinished business of Martin Luther King Jnr in the noble fight for racial justice in the United States”.

Recalling his personal connection to the late activist’s work, 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 and all forms of discrimination.

“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.”

The President described Jackson as “an influential figure in American politics and global affairs”, arguing that his struggles paved the way for the historic election of Barack Obama.

“If Barack Obama became the first Black American president, it was because Reverend Jackson and his fellow activists did not relent in their march for justice, reminding America of its values and creed,” Tinubu said.

He further noted: “When Barack Obama broke the glass ceiling as the first Black President in America, it was Reverend Jackson who first inflicted the cracks on the ceiling in 1984 and again in 1988 when he offered himself as a Democratic Party presidential contender.”

Turning to Jackson’s ties with Africa, Tinubu described him as “a great friend of Nigeria and Africa” and “a moral voice and a formidable resistance to apartheid in South Africa”.

According to the President, Jackson “played a leading role in the campaign for the release from prison of Nelson Mandela and other African National Congress leaders” and “won critical support for sanctions against the then apartheid government”.

He also highlighted Jackson’s intervention during Nigeria’s 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, noting that he was appointed Special Envoy to Nigeria and Africa by Bill Clinton in 1997 and 1999.

“In Nigeria and across Africa, Reverend Jackson promoted civil liberties and advanced the course of democracy and good governance. He also helped link African leaders with the Congressional Black Caucus to promote Africa’s interests in Washington,” the President added.

Reflecting on Jackson’s enduring legacy, Tinubu said he “lived a remarkable life as a strong voice for the universal ideals of justice and human progress”.

“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 statement read.

The President concluded with a prayer: “May the great and noble soul of Reverend Jackson find eternal rest.”