Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has reacted to a viral video of him refusing to shake hands with Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf.
In the video which recently made its way to the public space, Musa knelt to shake hands with Kano State Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo but refused to shake hands with Yusuf despite the latter extending his hand.
Several netizens accused Musa of disrespecting the governor.
However, the former Leicester City winger said in an Instagram post on Tuesday that he did not shake hands with the governor out of respect, adding that the incident occured nearly one month ago.
“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,” he wrote.
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“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.”
The 31-year-old, who often gets criticised when called up to the national team, added: “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?”
Musa urged his critics to channel efforts towards addressing “real issues” like uplifting one another, fostering unity, and working towards a better future for all.
