Nigerian scholar, journalist and novelist, Prof. Adebayo Williams, has criticised a chieftain of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, over his comment on President Bola Tinubu’s Chicago State University (CSU) certificate.

Mr Williams, in a statement on Tuesday titled “Tokunbo Pearse and President Bola Tinubu,” said that if he had not heard of Mr Pearse’s illustrious father and well-behaved brothers, he would have concluded that “being a shameless scoundrel is a familial trait.”

Mr Pearse commented on Mr Tinubu’s certificate scandal during a television interview on Sunday, saying he lectured at CSU between 1985 and 1990.

He claimed the President never attended the university and described him as a “pathological crook” without integrity. 

Responding to Mr Pearse’s claim, Mr Williams said, “This is not a bombshell but an eggshell flying around Tokunbo’s kitchen in his Araoti Street residence. Honour and integrity are in short supply in contemporary Nigerian politics. I had hoped that Tokunbo would not cross a particular line. I have never said a word over the years about his scurrilous and spurious attacks on President Tinubu. 

“I feel particularly pained by this because I brought them together and I know all that Tinubu did for him. In fairness to him, the president has never brought up the matter for discussion. I was a visiting Doctoral Student and Honorary Visiting Lecturer at the Department of English, University of Sheffield between February, 1981 and September, 1982. Tokunbo was a graduate student and we became great friends. 

“After a spell at the University of Buffalo, I returned to Ife later that year to defend my Doctoral thesis. Tokunbo defended his thesis in 1985 and thereafter left for America before disappearing in a Haitian haze for almost a decade.”

He added, “In 2003, I was part of Senator Tinubu’s entourage to his Alma mater, Chicago State University. We received a hero’s welcome and Tinubu was accorded a rousing reception by the University officials usually reserved for distinguished alumni who have brought honour to their Alma mater. 

“We took pictures and received many souvenirs. That is not the way of a rogue student. At 78, desperation is beginning to cloud everything Tokunbo says and does. If I have not heard of his illustrious father, late Commander Afolabi Pearse and his impeccably behaved brothers, retired Navy Captain Femi Pearse and Yomi Pearse, I would have concluded that being a shameless scoundrel is a familial trait. 

“In keeping with where I come from, I assure Toks that all the other secrets are safe with me until he crosses another line.”