Former Chicago State University lecturer Dr Pearse Adetokumbo has accused President Bola Tinubu of falsely presenting himself as a former student of the American institution, insisting that the Nigerian leader never attended the university.
Adetokumbo also accused the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji
Alausa, of misleading the public by defending claims that Tinubu studied at
Chicago State University.
The allegations have reignited controversy surrounding
Tinubu’s academic background, an issue that attracted significant attention
during the 2023 presidential election and subsequent legal disputes over his
educational qualifications.
Speaking during an interview on News Central TV, Adetokumbo
disclosed that he worked at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990.
He claimed he was the director of the programme Tinubu
allegedly attended and maintained that he had personal knowledge of the
president’s academic records.
The former lecturer further alleged that the documents
Tinubu submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,
contained the names of schools he never attended.
Adetokumbo questioned the credibility of the education
minister’s statements concerning Tinubu’s educational history.
He warned that the controversy could potentially attract
international legal attention, while insisting that strong language was
necessary to address what he described as serious misconduct within the
country's institutions.
Adetokumbo said, "But you better be careful. I have
said it before. This thing may end up in international criminal courts. Maybe
Amupitan and Tinubu, both of them, will die in the same cell. I'm saying it,
and I'm telling you something.
"We are at a point in our politics where we have to use
strong statements to tackle strong criminal behavior from our institutions.
"So I say it with all confidence, and I know things
about the president that he knows I know, that there is no way he can win this
election.
"Well, I know that he didn't even attend Chicago State
University. The education minister works for the president. The education
minister is lying.
"Do you know his real name? That [Tinubu] is not his
name. Do you know the school he attended? Primary school? No. Secondary school?
No.
"Look at the records he has been submitting to INEC
since he's been running. He never said he was homeschooled. He gave names for
schools which he never attended.
"This man is a professional crook. This is what is on
record. I am telling you. By the way, let me tell you something now. I was told
I shouldn't say before, but it's come to a point now.
"I used to be a lecturer at Chicago State University.
For five years. I was the director of the program that Tinubu said he attended
at Chicago State University. I was at Chicago State University from 1985 to
1990.
"After he had left, I can tell you now that when [they]
were 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. I had the
information.
"All the trouble that Atiku was going around looking
for information, I had it then. I gave it to them, but I told them this is not
how you win an election.
"Campaign against this guy and his performers. That's
what you do. But the fact of the matter is, I know that he never attended
Chicago State University, and he knows that I know.
"So the man has no integrity. All these governors,
whatever they want to do, let them do it. It will be them against us, the
people. The people are not going to vote for rubbish.
"They have had enough. Poverty is on the rise.
Unemployment is on the rise. Insecurity on the rise. Everything has failed
because of this administration. If he's a genius, he's a genius to regain
election. That is what it is."
Adetokumbo's comments come amid renewed political
discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the former lecturer
expressing confidence that Nigerians would reject the current administration at
the polls.
He also criticised the government's performance, citing
rising poverty, unemployment and insecurity as reasons he believes voters may
seek a change in leadership.
President Tinubu is yet to respond to these allegations.
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