President Bola Tinubu hails Rev. Jesse Jackson as a servant-leader who fought for Black dignity, cracked racial barriers for Obama
Tinubu Leads Nigerian Tributes to Rev. Jesse Jackson: A Global Champion of Justice Who ‘Cracked the Ceiling’ for Obama
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid a heartfelt and personal tribute to American civil rights legend Rev. Jesse Jackson, mourning the passing of the iconic Baptist preacher and activist who died peacefully at age 84 on February 17, 2026.
In an emotional message released Tuesday, Tinubu joined global leaders and the American people in grieving the loss of a towering figure whose lifelong fight for equality reshaped the United States and inspired movements worldwide.
“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,” the President said.
Tinubu described Jackson as a “servant-leader” who carried forward Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s unfinished work, dedicating his life to uplifting Black people, the oppressed, and the voiceless.
“Reverend Jackson was a servant-leader who captured the global imagination as a young activist… fighting for the dignity of black people, the oppressed, and the voiceless in the United States and across the world,” he said.
Drawing from his own experiences as a student in Chicago during the 1970s, Tinubu reflected on witnessing Jackson’s impact firsthand.
“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 nation’s leader added.
The President highlighted Jackson’s groundbreaking presidential runs in 1984 and 1988, crediting them with paving the way for Barack Obama’s historic 2008 victory.
“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,” Tinubu disclosed.
Beyond America, Jackson’s influence reached Africa—he fiercely opposed apartheid in South Africa, campaigned for Nelson Mandela’s release, and supported other African National Congress leaders.
Tinubu noted Jackson’s special bond with Nigeria: as a supporter of pro-democracy struggles during military rule and later as President Bill Clinton’s special envoy to Nigeria and Africa in the late 1990s, where he championed civil liberties and strengthened Africa’s voice in Washington through ties with the Congressional Black Caucus.
“Reverend Jackson lived a remarkable life as a strong voice for the universal ideals of justice and human progress,” Tinubu said, adding that even in his later years amid illness, “his voice still resonated, urging us never to stop fighting for what is right and never to lose faith in humanity.”
The President concluded with a solemn prayer: “May the great and noble soul of Reverend Jackson find eternal rest.”
Jackson’s death has prompted widespread tributes, underscoring his enduring legacy as a bridge-builder for racial justice, democracy, and human dignity across continents.
