Super Eagles forward, Ahmed Musa, has cleared the air about a viral video of him declining the handshake extended to him by Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
In the video, which was taken during the footballer’s courtesy visit to the Kano State Government House, the former Leicester City player was captured shaking hands with the deputy governor of the state, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, and chose to bow while greeting Governor Abba Yusuf.
However, the video has continued to generate reactions on social media, with many describing it as an act of disrespect to the Kano State governor by the Super Eagles star.
Reacting to the development via his official account on Tuesday, the one-time AFCON champion explained that choosing to bow to the governor rather than shaking his hand is an act of honoring him in a way that is deeply rooted in the Hausa tradition.
ALSO READ: Gov Yusuf distributes 6500 free JAMB forms to Kano secondary students
According to him, it is rather unfortunate that a simple gesture of cultural respect shown by him to the governor was blown out of proportion by some social media users.
He, however, urged some netizens who are condemning him over the development to channel their energy into other pressing issues affecting the nation.
In the lengthy post, he wrote, “It has come to my attention that a moment captured almost a month ago, has unexpectedly become the center of attention on social media. It’s disheartening to see a simple act of cultural respect blown out of proportion. In our Northern culture, the gesture of kneeling, shaking hands etc signifies the highest form of respect. This was my intention when I greeted the Deputy Governor in such a manner. However, when it came to greeting the Governor, I chose to bow and not shake his hands, honoring him in a way that is deeply rooted in tradition.
“It’s unfortunate that amidst all the pressing issues our nation faces – economic hardships, security challenges, religious clashes and more – this seemingly insignificant moment has garnered so much attention. Even national media outlets like ARISE TV have jumped on the bandwagon, diverting focus from issues that truly matter- highly disappointing I must say.
“What’s even more disheartening are the comments questioning my respectfulness, especially from those who don’t know me personally. Let’s pause for a moment and reflect on where we choose to direct our energy. Shouldn’t it be towards finding solutions to the problems plaguing our society rather than getting caught up in needless distractions?
“I urge us all to channel our collective efforts towards addressing the real issues at hand. Let’s focus on uplifting one another, fostering unity, and working towards a better future for all. And with this, I rest my case. #FocusOnWhatMatters #CulturalRespect #UnityInDiversity ❤️👍🙏.”
