The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) has dissociated its President-General, Chief Barrister Sulaimon Ajeniyi Ajewole, from a viral social media post that appeared to portray him as being sympathetic to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), insisting that the impression created by the now-deleted post was false and misleading.
Controversy erupted after social media commentator Akolade Ismahil Bello shared a photograph showing himself, APM chieftain and close ally of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Chief Bisi Olopoeyan, alongside the CCII President-General.
The image was accompanied by the caption, “APM…..Nigeria First,” a post many interpreted as suggesting that Ajewole had endorsed or aligned with the party before it was later deleted.
Reacting in a disclaimer issued by its Publicity Directorate, CCII clarified that the photograph had been taken about three years ago during a wedding ceremony in London and had no political undertone whatsoever.
The statement, signed by the council’s Publicity Directorate, described attempts to present the image as evidence of political support as misleading and capable of creating a false public impression.
According to the council, the event where the photograph was taken was purely social, stressing that Ajewole’s attendance should never be construed as endorsement, participation in, or identification with any political campaign or partisan movement.
CCII maintained that, as President-General of the foremost socio-cultural umbrella body for Ibadan indigenes, Ajewole occupies a non-partisan office that demands neutrality and equal service to every son and daughter of Ibadanland, irrespective of political affiliation.
It added that the President-General regularly interacts with Ibadan indigenes and Nigerians from different political, religious and professional backgrounds, noting that such engagements should not be deliberately twisted to score political points or advance partisan narratives.
Calling for restraint, the council urged members of the public, particularly Ibadan indigenes, to disregard the viral post and always seek the proper context before drawing conclusions from photographs or social media publications.
CCII reaffirmed its commitment to promoting unity, preserving the rich cultural heritage of Ibadanland and advancing the collective interest and development of its people, while insisting that it would continue to remain above partisan politics in pursuit of its mandate.
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