The Only Five Officials Tinubu Trusted Most as Lagos Governor
A former special assistant to President Bola Tinubu has disclosed the identities of the five commissioners who, according to him, enjoyed the highest level of trust during Tinubu’s tenure as governor of Lagos State.
The revelation was made by Dapo Thomas, now a professor of history at Lagos State University, in excerpts from his forthcoming autobiography, Lagos Boy and Lagos Politics, scheduled for launch on July 9, 2026.
According to Thomas, Tinubu privately grouped members of his cabinet into different categories based on the level of confidence he had in them, with only five commissioners making it into the top tier.
The officials named were Wale Edun, Dele Alake, Yemi Cardoso, Rauf Aregbesola and Yemi Osinbajo.
Thomas said he observed that while most commissioners were expected to route official files through the Office of the Chief of Staff before they reached the governor, the five trusted officials were allowed to submit their documents directly to Tinubu without attracting any criticism.
He explained that what many people saw as preferential treatment was, in Tinubu’s view, simply a matter of trust and confidence.
The former aide also recalled an incident shortly before Tinubu embarked on an official trip when several commissioners surrounded him with files awaiting approval. According to Thomas, the governor immediately ordered everyone out of his office, warning that he could unknowingly sign something against his interest if he continued approving documents under pressure.
Thomas further recounted another episode before a trip to South Africa. He said Tinubu initially agreed to travel with official files after discussions with Yemi Cardoso but later instructed his driver in Yoruba to return the documents to the vehicle, saying he did not want anyone to influence his judgment while reviewing government papers outside the country.
According to Thomas, the incidents reflected Tinubu’s cautious approach to governance and his reliance on a small circle of trusted advisers when making important decisions.
The memoir offers a rare behind-the-scenes account of Tinubu’s years as Lagos governor, providing fresh insight into how trust influenced his leadership style and decision-making long before he became Nigeria’s president.
