By Marvellous Nyang
July 6, 2026
A former Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, Prof. Dapo Thomas, has disclosed why the President placed exceptional trust in just five commissioners throughout his eight years in office.
Thomas, a Professor of History at Lagos State University, made the revelation in his autobiography, Lagos Boy and Lagos Politics, which offers an insider’s account of Tinubu’s administration between 1999 and 2007.
According to him, the five commissioners who formed Tinubu’s trusted inner circle were Yemi Osinbajo, Rauf Aregbesola, Wale Edun, Dele Alake and Yemi Cardoso.
He explained that the President privately grouped members of his cabinet into different categories based on the level of confidence he had in them, with only the five commissioners occupying the highest category.
Thomas said the officials enjoyed unusual access to Tinubu and were permitted to submit official files directly to him without routing them through the Office of the Chief of Staff, a privilege not extended to other commissioners.
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He noted that while Tinubu regularly cautioned cabinet members against bypassing official administrative procedures, he made an exception for the five because they had earned his absolute confidence.
“The governor told me the names of the commissioners in the different categories, but in strict adherence to discretion, I will mention only the commissioners that were in category one,” Thomas wrote.
He stressed that what many interpreted as favouritism was, in reality, a leadership style built on trust, competence and proven loyalty.
Thomas also recounted an incident in which several commissioners gathered in Tinubu’s office shortly before the governor travelled abroad, hoping to obtain his signature on pending official documents.
Sensing what he believed was coordinated pressure, Tinubu reportedly ordered everyone out of his office.
According to Thomas, the governor warned that if he continued signing documents under such circumstances, he might unknowingly sign his own resignation letter.
The former aide narrated another episode involving former Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Yemi Cardoso, who advised Tinubu against travelling overseas with official files.
Although Tinubu initially appeared to accept the advice, Thomas said the governor later instructed his driver in Yoruba to return the files to the vehicle, insisting that no one would be able to influence his decisions while he reviewed the documents abroad.
Thomas said the incidents illustrated Tinubu’s cautious decision making style and his preference for relying on a small circle of trusted advisers in handling sensitive government matters during his administration in Lagos.
