General News
Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Leader and Two-Time Presidential Candidate, Dies at 84
According to a statement released by his family, Jackson died peacefully on Tuesday morning surrounded by loved ones.
A prominent figure in the American civil rights movement of the 1960s, Jackson was a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr. and was present in Memphis in 1968 when King was assassinated. He later emerged as one of the most influential Black political voices in the United States.
Jackson founded Operation PUSH (People United to Serve Humanity) and built what he called the “Rainbow Coalition,” a movement aimed at uniting minorities, poor and working-class Americans across racial and ethnic lines.
In 1984 and 1988, he made history with two strong bids for the Democratic presidential nomination, becoming the first African American to mount a nationally competitive campaign within a major US political party. His 1988 Democratic Convention speech, ending with the famous phrase “Keep hope alive,” became one of the most memorable moments in modern US political history.
Similarly, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and presidential aspirant, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has mourned the death of American civil rights icon, Jesse Jackson, describing him as one of America’s finest moral exports and a global symbol of justice and democratic struggle.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Hashim said Jackson’s death at 84 marks the end of a defining era in the global fight for equality, human dignity, and social justice. He noted that the late activist’s influence transcended the United States and inspired freedom movements worldwide.
He described Jackson as a moral voice shaped by the struggle for democracy and inclusion, adding that he carried forward the unfinished work of the Civil Rights Movement.
A close associate of Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson, he said, helped transform grief into organised resistance following King’s assassination.
Hashim also referenced Jackson’s historic presidential campaigns in the 1980s, describing them as groundbreaking efforts that expanded political possibilities for minorities in America and reshaped the country’s democratic landscape.
According to him, Jackson firmly believed in the power of the ballot, peaceful protest, and moral conviction, stressing that democracy must serve all citizens, not just the privileged.
Hashim added that Jackson’s legacy holds enduring lessons for Nigeria and Africa, particularly the need for leadership grounded in courage, compassion, and moral clarity.
He concluded by commiserating with the United States, describing Jackson as a towering voice for justice whose impact will continue to inspire generations.
Over the years, Jackson also played diplomatic roles, negotiating the release of American hostages abroad and remaining an influential voice within the Democratic Party.
In 2017, he disclosed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, later revised to progressive supranuclear palsy, a degenerative brain disorder.
Tributes have begun pouring in across the United States, with many describing him as a towering figure in the struggle for racial justice and political inclusion.
Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has broken his silence over recent allegations made by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing the claims as too grave to ignore.
Last week, El-Rufai reportedly accused the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of secretly bugging his phone and gaining access to his most sensitive conversations. He further alleged that the Office of the National Security Adviser imported dangerous chemical substances into Nigeria for undisclosed purposes. In addition, he claimed there was a conspiracy involving Ribadu and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, aimed at politically destroying him and ensuring his imprisonment for life.
Fani-Kayode, who acknowledged longstanding personal relationships with all three men, said he initially refrained from commenting out of respect for their shared history. However, he stated that the seriousness of the allegations and recent developments compelled him to speak.
Reflecting on their political journey, Fani-Kayode recalled that he, El-Rufai, Ribadu and Uba Sani worked closely during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo over two decades ago. At the time, Ribadu headed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), El-Rufai served in the Federal Executive Council, Uba Sani functioned as Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, while Fani-Kayode was a cabinet minister.
According to him, the group maintained a close working relationship and often aligned on national policy matters, engaging robustly during Federal Executive Council meetings. He described the period as one marked by loyalty, youthful zeal, and firm commitment to the administration.
Fani-Kayode further recounted that after leaving office, members of the group faced what he termed “severe persecution” during the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, largely due to their association with Obasanjo. He claimed that Ribadu and El-Rufai were forced into exile at the time, while he and Uba Sani remained in Nigeria and endured political pressure.
Although Fani-Kayode did not directly validate or dismiss El-Rufai’s recent allegations, he emphasized that the claims are weighty and require careful attention given the national security implications.
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, resolving a major dispute over Clause 60, which governs electronic transmission of election results.
The controversy arose when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe demanded a division, opposing the proviso allowing manual transmission where network failures occur. He called for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results.
During the division, 55 senators, mostly from the ruling All Progressives Congress and two opposition members, voted to retain the manual fallback option, while 15 opposition senators voted against it.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, described the process as “democracy in action,” praising senators for expressing their positions openly.
The Senate subsequently rescinded the earlier passage and referred the bill to the Committee of the Whole for detailed reconsideration and re-enactment.
The decision confirms that while electronic transmission is allowed, the signed Form EC8A by the Presiding Officer, counter-signed by party agents where available, serves as the primary source in case of network failure.
The development ensures technical and logistical considerations are addressed ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The National Assembly on Tuesday commended the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for what lawmakers described as sweeping reforms across agencies under his supervision, while urging authorities to fast-track ongoing recruitment exercises.
The commendation came during a joint session of the Interior Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, where the minister and his team defended the ministry’s 2026 budget proposal.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Adams Oshiomhole, speaking on behalf of the joint panel, said reform measures introduced by the ministry were already yielding measurable results both locally and internationally.
He highlighted improvements within the Nigeria Immigration Service, noting increased professionalism and better public perception at airports, which he said reflects positively on Nigeria’s global image.
Oshiomhole also cited a recent federal directive assigning VIP protection duties to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, describing it as evidence of growing confidence in the corps’ capacity to protect lives and property.
The committee further acknowledged restructuring efforts within the Federal Fire Service and the Nigerian Correctional Service, commending their leadership for aligning with the minister’s reform agenda.
According to the lawmaker, the Senate had earlier passed a resolution directing the ministry to deploy officials to Kano to assess recent fire outbreaks that destroyed shops and private property, stressing the need to strengthen emergency response systems nationwide.
Despite praising the progress recorded, the panel urged the Civil Defence, Correctional, Immigration and Fire Service Board to accelerate its recruitment process. Lawmakers noted that candidates who recently sat for examinations were awaiting results and should be notified promptly, describing timely completion of the exercise as a matter of national importance.
The committee maintained that sustained reforms, combined with prompt administrative action, would further enhance public confidence in agencies under the ministry.