A presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has mourned the death of renowned American civil rights leader, Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, hailing him as “one of America’s finest moral exports” and a global symbol of justice, unity, and democratic struggle.
In a tribute issued on Tuesday, Hashim said Jackson’s passing at the age of 84 marks the end of an era in the worldwide pursuit of equality, human dignity, and social justice. He noted that the civil rights icon’s influence transcended the borders of the United States.
Recalling his own activism, including serving as General Secretary of the Youth Solidarity for South Africa in Nigeria in 1986, Hashim described Jackson as a moral voice forged in the fight for democracy and inclusion.
He emphasized that Jackson continued the legacy of prophetic activism, building on the foundation laid by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“Rev. Jackson transformed grief into organized resistance and hope into measurable political progress,” Hashim said, highlighting Jackson’s leadership of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which amplified the voices of the marginalized and insisted they must have a seat at the table of power.
Hashim also recalled Jackson’s groundbreaking presidential campaigns in the 1980s, which expanded the political imagination of minorities in America and reshaped the nation’s democratic landscape.
“His message was always clear inclusion is not charity, it is justice, Hashim stated, noting that Jackson’s unwavering advocacy for democracy and human rights offers enduring lessons for Nigeria and Africa, particularly the need for leadership grounded in courage, compassion, and moral clarity.
Hashim concluded by offering condolences to the United States, describing Jackson as “a towering voice for justice” whose courage and compassion will continue to inspire generations.
