Why President Bola Tinubu Placed Trust Only In Osinbajo, Aregbesola, Edun, Alake And Yemi Cardoso — Former SA Thomas

A former Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu during his time as Lagos State Governor, Dapo Thomas, has disclosed that Tinubu maintained a tightly defined inner circle of trusted commissioners, which included Wale Edun, Dele Alake, Yemi Cardoso, Rauf Aregbesola, and Yemi Osinbajo.

According to Ireporter Online, Thomas, who is now a professor of history at Lagos State University, made the revelation in excerpts from his forthcoming autobiography titled Lagos Boy and Lagos Politics, scheduled for public presentation on July 9, 2026.

In the book, Thomas explained that Tinubu allegedly categorised members of his cabinet into different levels of trust, with only five commissioners placed in the highest tier. He noted that the former governor managed his cabinet based on perceived character and loyalty, a system that sometimes appeared as preferential treatment to outsiders.

He further stated that Tinubu was strict about administrative procedures, often insisting that commissioners submit their files through the Office of the Chief of Staff. However, he observed that those in the top trust category were reportedly exempted from this rule without consequence, which he attributed to issues of personal confidence and integrity.

Thomas also recounted an incident in which Tinubu abruptly ordered everyone out of his office after what he described as a coordinated effort to pressure him into signing official documents before a scheduled trip. Tinubu was quoted as saying he feared such pressure could lead to unintended decisions if not checked, insisting that all aides leave his office immediately.

In another account, Thomas described a situation where Tinubu initially agreed to travel with official files to South Africa but later changed his decision after being advised by Yemi Cardoso. He said the former governor subsequently directed his driver in Yoruba to return the documents to the vehicle, emphasizing that no one could influence his decisions under undue pressure.

The revelations, drawn from Thomas’s memoir, offer a rare glimpse into the internal workings and trust dynamics of Tinubu’s administration during his tenure as Lagos State Governor.