Key Takeaways

• The Presidency has rejected Professor Adetokunbo Pearse’s claims concerning President Bola Tinubu’s academic records at Chicago State University.
• Dada Olusegun questioned Pearse’s academic background, noting that he holds a PhD in Linguistics and taught English and Literature.
• Olusegun argued that Pearse’s previous employment did not automatically give him access to the university’s entire student database.
• The presidential aide said Pearse taught at CSU between 1985 and 1990, while Tinubu had allegedly graduated in 1979.
• The Presidency also challenged Pearse’s comments about possible imprisonment, raising questions about the ICC’s jurisdiction.
• Pearse had previously questioned Tinubu’s attendance at CSU and claimed personal knowledge of the relevant academic records.
• The competing statements do not, by themselves, constitute independent verification of the disputed academic records.

The Presidency has responded to Professor Adetokunbo Pearse’s claims about President Bola Tinubu’s academic records at Chicago State University (CSU), challenging his account of the president’s alleged attendance and graduation from the American institution.

President Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, dismissed Pearse’s position in a statement published on Monday, questioning his academic background, his access to the university’s student records and the timeline of his employment at the institution.

Olusegun maintained that Pearse taught at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990, while Tinubu had already graduated and left the institution in 1979.

Presidency Challenges Pearse’s Academic Background

One of the central arguments in Olusegun’s response concerned Pearse’s academic qualifications.

The presidential aide pointed out that Pearse holds a PhD in Linguistics and taught English and Literature. He questioned how that background qualified the professor to direct or supervise an Accounting and Business Administration programme allegedly attended by Tinubu.

In his social media post, Olusegun wrote:

The Prof has a PhD in Linguistics and taught English/Literature. How does that qualify him to direct or supervise an Accounting and Business Administration program?

The Presidency also challenged Pearse’s suggestion that he possessed personal knowledge of Tinubu’s academic records because of his previous employment at the university.

Olusegun Questions Pearse’s Access to CSU Student Records

Another major part of the rebuttal focused on whether Pearse’s former position at Chicago State University gave him access to the institution’s complete student database.

Olusegun argued that teaching at a university for five years does not automatically grant an individual access to all student records. He maintained that academic records belong to the institution and that verification should be conducted through Chicago State University itself.

He stated:

Teaching at a university for 5 years does not give you access to its entire student database.

Records belong to the institution, and verification must go through Chicago State University itself.

The argument formed part of the Presidency’s wider effort to challenge Pearse’s assertion that his previous position gave him personal knowledge of Tinubu’s academic history.

Presidency Highlights Difference in Employment and Graduation Dates

Olusegun also drew attention to the timeline of Pearse’s employment at Chicago State University and Tinubu’s alleged graduation.

According to the presidential aide, Pearse acknowledged that he worked at the institution between 1985 and 1990, while Tinubu had graduated and left the university in 1979.

Olusegun used the six-year difference to question Pearse’s basis for making claims about the president’s student records.

He wrote:

Dr. Pearse himself admitted that he only taught at CSU from 1985 to 1990.

President Tinubu had already graduated and left the institution in 1979; six full years before Pearse even stepped foot on campus.

These dates were presented as part of Olusegun’s rebuttal and should be understood as the Presidency’s account of the timeline.

Presidency Responds to Pearse’s Comments About Possible Imprisonment

The presidential aide also addressed Pearse’s comments concerning the possibility of President Tinubu facing imprisonment if convicted over the academic qualification controversy.

Olusegun argued that Pearse had misunderstood the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC), insisting that the court does not handle certificate controversies.

He wrote:

The ICC does not try certificate controversies.

Before predicting jail terms, at least understand the basic jurisdiction of the court you are invoking.

The statement represented the Presidency’s response to Pearse’s comments about possible legal consequences. It was not an independent judicial ruling on the matter.

Olusegun Accuses Pearse of Making Misleading Claims

In his post, Olusegun said Pearse’s arguments had been challenged by Dr. Reuben Abati, whom he credited with identifying what he described as major weaknesses in the professor’s claims.

Introducing his response, the presidential aide wrote:

Dr.@R_abati1990 completely shredded the Professor Adetokunbo Pearse’s claims of President Bola Tinubu never attended or graduated from Chicago State University with 3 fatal loopholes:

He ended the post with a sharp criticism of Pearse’s position, writing:

Facts are always scary to con-artists!

The remarks reflected the strongly worded nature of the Presidency’s response to the controversy.

What Pearse Previously Said About Tinubu’s CSU Records

The disagreement followed an earlier interview in which Professor Adetokunbo Pearse dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu studied at Chicago State University.

Pearse argued that documents submitted by Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) contained the names of schools the president had allegedly never attended.

He also said he worked at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990 and claimed that he was the director of the programme Tinubu was alleged to have attended.

Based on his previous position at the institution, Pearse maintained that he had personal knowledge of the president’s academic records.

His comments prompted the Presidency’s latest response, with Olusegun challenging both the professor’s arguments and the extent of his knowledge of the university’s records.

Tinubu’s Chicago State University Controversy Remains a Matter of Competing Claims

The latest exchange has brought renewed attention to the controversy surrounding President Tinubu’s academic history and the documents associated with his educational qualifications.

While Pearse has questioned the president’s attendance and academic records, the Presidency has rejected his claims, relying on arguments about his academic background, access to university records and the dates of his employment at Chicago State University.

The disagreement highlights the importance of distinguishing between allegations, political responses and independently verified institutional records. The statements presented by both sides should therefore be understood in their proper context rather than treated as conclusive findings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why did the Presidency respond to Professor Adetokunbo Pearse?

The Presidency responded after Pearse questioned President Bola Tinubu’s attendance and academic records at Chicago State University.

2. Who issued the Presidency’s response?

The response was issued by Dada Olusegun, President Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media.

3. What did Dada Olusegun say about Pearse’s qualifications?

Olusegun pointed out that Pearse holds a PhD in Linguistics and taught English and Literature, questioning how those qualifications related to supervising an Accounting and Business Administration programme.

4. When did Pearse reportedly work at Chicago State University?

According to the account presented by Olusegun, Pearse worked at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990.

5. When did Tinubu allegedly graduate from Chicago State University?

Olusegun maintained that Tinubu graduated and left the institution in 1979. This was part of the Presidency’s rebuttal.

6. What did Pearse claim about Tinubu’s academic records?

Pearse questioned whether Tinubu attended Chicago State University and argued that documents submitted to INEC contained the names of schools the president had allegedly never attended.

7. What did the Presidency say about the ICC?

Olusegun argued that the International Criminal Court does not handle certificate controversies and questioned Pearse’s comments about possible imprisonment.

8. Does the Presidency’s response independently settle the CSU controversy?

No. The response presents the Presidency’s position and arguments against Pearse’s claims. The statements themselves should not be treated as independent verification of the disputed academic records.