A former lecturer at Chicago State University in the United States, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu never attended the institution, claiming that he previously supplied information concerning the President’s academic records to individuals sent by the late Lagos politician, Funsho Williams, during an investigation into Tinubu’s educational background.
Pearse, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, made the claims during an interview on News Central TV, where he also accused the Minister of Education of misleading Nigerians over Tinubu’s educational qualifications.
The former lecturer, who said he taught at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990, maintained that he was familiar with the academic programme Tinubu claimed to have attended and had access to information concerning the President’s educational background.
According to Pearse, the issue of Tinubu’s academic records had attracted attention as far back as 1999, when Funsho Williams was seeking information about the former Lagos State governor’s educational qualifications.
He claimed that individuals involved in the search were directed to him because of his position at the university and that he subsequently provided the information they requested.
“I can tell you now that when Funsho Williams was looking for information on Tinubu’s record, I think it was 1999, it was to me that they sent people to come and collect the information,” Pearse said.
He added that the information he possessed was the same type of material that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar later sought in connection with the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s academic qualifications.
“I had the information. All the trouble that Atiku was going around looking for information, I had it there. I gave it to them,” he stated.
Pearse further claimed that he served as the director of the academic programme Tinubu said he attended at Chicago State University, insisting that his knowledge of the institution informed his position on the matter.
“I was the director of the program in which Tinubu said he attended,” he said.
Despite the university’s previous confirmation of Tinubu’s attendance, Pearse maintained that the President never studied at the institution.
“But the fact of the matter is, I know that he never attended Chicago State University, and he knows that I know,” he alleged.
The former lecturer also questioned statements attributed to the Minister of Education concerning the President’s academic background.
When the interviewer reminded him that the minister had confirmed Tinubu’s attendance at Chicago State University, Pearse rejected the assertion and accused the minister of defending the President.
“The Education Minister works for the President. The Education Minister is lying, just as the President himself is a bona fide professional liar,” he said.
Pearse further alleged that Tinubu had presented educational records to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) containing the names of institutions he did not attend.
“Look at the records he has been submitting to INEC. He never said he was homeschooled. He gave names of schools which he never attended. This man is a professional crook,” he alleged.
The allegations, however, contradict the official position of Chicago State University, which has previously confirmed that Tinubu attended the institution between 1977 and 1979 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
The university has maintained that its records establish Tinubu’s attendance and graduation in 1979.
Pearse’s stated period of employment at the university, from 1985 to 1990, also began several years after Tinubu’s attendance between 1977 and 1979, as confirmed by the institution.
His allegations therefore remain disputed and should not be confused with the university’s official confirmation of the President’s academic history.
The renewed controversy surrounding Tinubu’s educational qualifications comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a separate interview on Arise Television, Pearse had also warned President Tinubu and other political actors against attempting to manipulate the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the international community was closely monitoring political developments in Nigeria.
The PDP chieftain cautioned that electoral malpractice could attract international attention and consequences, referring specifically to United States President Donald Trump and the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“The whole international world is watching. If you rig the election the way you normally do, you may have Trump coming to get your war chambers. Everybody should be careful,” he warned.
Pearse also invoked the existence of the International Criminal Court as a reason political actors should avoid actions capable of undermining the electoral process.
“This is not the first time it has happened. The International Criminal Court is there, so be careful what you do with a rigged election in Nigeria,” he stated.
He expressed confidence that the 2027 elections would be different from previous electoral contests, maintaining that Nigerians would no longer tolerate electoral manipulation.
“No, no, no — it will not happen again. 2027 is going to be different,” he declared.
Post Title: “I Gave Funsho Williams’ Team Tinubu’s Academic Information” — Ex-Chicago State Lecturer Pearse Insists President Never Attended University By Naijaonpoint.