A former Bayelsa East Senator, Ben Murray-Bruce, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of United States civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, who passed away at the age of 84.
Online earlier reported that the Baptist minister died on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by his family.
The family hailed “his unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love” and described him as a servant leader to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked worldwide.
In a post via his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, Murray-Bruce described the late activist as a dear friend and an extraordinary global icon.
Recounting their first encounter, Murray-Bruce said he met Jackson in 1982 or 1983, shortly before his first presidential run in the United States under the Democratic Party.
“I first met Jesse Jackson in 1982 or 1983, just before he ran for President of the United States under the Democratic Party. We met at an event at Solar Records during a cool jazz festival, where Black promoters were demanding equity.
“They could not understand why a Black festival of that magnitude was being promoted exclusively by white promoters, and Jesse stepped in and resolved the matter. From that moment, we became friends,” he said.
Murray-Bruce said he remained close to Jackson throughout his presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988.
He noted that Jackson came third in the 1984 race and second in the 1988 Democratic primaries, describing those periods as defining moments in American political history.
The former senator also recalled how Jackson once sought his assistance in securing an aircraft from Nigeria to visit frontline African states that had been bombed by South African forces during the apartheid era.
“At one point, Jesse called me and asked if I could help secure an aircraft from Nigeria so he could visit the frontline states that had just been bombed by South African forces,” Murray-Bruce said.
He explained that he approached former Foreign Affairs Minister, Bolaji Akinyemi, who facilitated the request.
“Jesse flew into Lagos, and we travelled with him across Southern Africa, Mozambique, Angola, and Zimbabwe, meeting leaders and presidents of the frontline states, as well as the ANC in exile in Lusaka,” he added.
Describing Jackson as a man with direct links to the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., Murray-Bruce said he considered it a great honour to have known him personally.
“Jesse Jackson was a dear friend and a truly great man. I was one of his biggest admirers, and I will deeply miss him,” he said.
He prayed for strength for Jackson’s family, adding that the late civil rights leader would never be forgotten.