Actress Eniola Ajao has addressed the controversy over her interaction with Ruth Adekola, wife of actor Odunlade Adekola, at the burial of his father in Ekiti State.
Clips from the event stirred rumours of tension between the two women, with some online users linking the speculation to alleged romance between Eniola and Odunlade.
In a series of messages posted to her Instagram story on Wednesday, Eniola subtly responded to the backlash:
“Life hits different when you stop trying to prove you didn’t say that or do that. You can’t fix every lie or rumor. Just be great.”
“People may stain your image, but they can’t erase your good deeds. Those who truly know you will always admire you.
Despite the noise, many fans came to Eniola’s defense. One commenter praised her loyalty to Odunlade, calling her actions “a show of appreciation toward a mentor.”
The fan criticized the public’s tendency to misinterpret male-female friendships, stating: “An average African believes a man and a woman can’t be close without intimacy. That mindset is part of what’s holding us back.”
The user encouraged Eniola to stay focused and not be distracted by “mere noise,” describing her maturity as admirable and urging her to continue working with Odunlade regardless of public opinion.
The controversy stems from events that took place during the burial ceremony of Odunlade Adekola’s father in Ekiti State on August 21. Social media buzzed after clips circulated showing a perceived lack of warmth between Eniola and Ruth. Some online users alleged that Ruth did not initiate a greeting and only responded after Ajao approached her.
This fueled assumptions that tension existed between the two women, further intensified by Eniola’s facial expression in the now-viral footage. Online critics accused her of hypocrisy and questioned whether the strained interaction pointed to a deeper issue specifically, an unconfirmed romantic history with Odunlade.
