Tinubu’s Certificate: Arrest Me And I Will Expose More, Pearse Dares FG

LONDON – Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State and former lecturer at Chicago State University (CSU), has dared the Federal Government to arrest him over his comments on President Bola Tinubu’s academic qualifications, threatening to make further revelations if the authorities come after him.

Pearse, who insisted that Tinubu did not graduate from Chicago State University, said he had evidence to substantiate his claim and would expose more information about the President if authorities moved against him.

Reacting to calls for his arrest over his interview on Tinubu, the PDP chieftain in an interview with DAILY INDEPENDENT on Friday, challenged those behind the calls to identify the offence he had committed, insisting that he had nothing to fear.

“What are they going to arrest me for? I said Tinubu did not graduate from Chicago State University because I have proof that he didn’t graduate. I used to be a coordinator of the programme for which he graduated.

“When FCT minister, Nyesom Wike said he is going to shoot a journalist, Seun Okinbaloye on national television, did they even interrogate him or arrest him? Believe me, they will not dare come for me because if they do, I will expose them more. They don’t have any case against me.

“One Awojaiye who is a commissioner in Lagos state said I want to turn Nigeria into a banana republic because I was abusing the president.

You only have a banana republic when you are not allowed to criticise the president. Is it not a banana republic when you run the economy aground and people cannot afford to eat? So, who is trying to turn Nigeria into a banana republic between me and Tinubu?

“Let us go to court first before you can talk of arresting me. If they come for me, I will sue them. Even if they ask me to come, I will not go. I will tell them to come and arrest me and then they will give me reasons why they are coming to my house. They have nothing against me.

“I can never say anything I cannot substantiate. I worked in the US, I taught in six different universities for 20 years. I came back to Nigeria and I taught in UNILAG for over 14 years. I know the system more than them.”

Pearse also dismissed comments by television presenter Reuben Abati on the controversy, arguing that the programme Tinubu allegedly attended was similar to a distance-learning programme.

“I listened to Reuben Abati talking rubbish. What does he know about Tinubu? The programme that Tinubu attended was like Distance Learning (DLI). If you graduate from DLI and you have a certificate from UNILAG and you said you have a certificate in Accounting from DLI, if we are looking for your certificate from UNILAG, do we go to DLI or department of Accounting? Definitely, we go to DLI because that is your department.

“That is exactly why I was able to get Tinubu’s records because I was an administrator. I was the coordinator of a programme in DLI. By the way, he never did Accounting. The person that he claimed to be was not a man, the person was a woman.

“They asked me to look for a MR BOLA AHMED TINUBU. When I sent it, they said they don’t have that but they have a MISS BOLA TINUBU. I said well, maybe that is the same person, please send it to me. So, what we have is MISS BOLA TINUBU.”

The former lecturer further questioned how Tinubu could have obtained an Accounting degree within two years, considering the period he reportedly attended Chicago State University.

“Another point, how can you get a degree in Accounting in two years. Tinubu said he attended Chicago State University from 1977 to 1979. How then did you get a degree in Accounting?

“Tinubu lied to CSU. Even if they swore to an affidavit, they thought they are looking at a bonafide student. If I get to CSU, I will tell them what happened and they will go back to Tinubu and tell him the truth he needs to hear”.

Pearse’s allegations contradict Chicago State University’s publicly stated position on Tinubu’s academic record. The university has previously confirmed that the President attended the institution and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree.

In a June 2022 letter, CSU’s Office of the Registrar stated that Tinubu attended the university from August 1977 to June 1979 and was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a major in Accounting, on June 22, 1979.

The university also reiterated in an October 2023 statement that Tinubu attended and graduated from the institution in 1979.

However, Pearse maintains that his experience as a former coordinator of the programme gives him grounds to challenge the university’s position, insisting that he is prepared to provide further information if authorities attempt to arrest him.

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