Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has defended himself amid a social media tempest involving a controversial video clip of him doing welcome gestures.
He called for a change of focus to be directed toward the urgent problems confronting the country and characterized his move as a gesture of cultural respect.
In response to a video that went viral online on Monday, which showed him shaking hands with the deputy governor of Kano State and seemingly ignoring Governor Abba Yusuf while bowing to him, Musa made these comments.
“It has come to my attention that on a moment captured almost a month ago, has unexpectedly become the center of attention on social media,” Musa responded in a statement on Tuesday. Seeing a small gesture of cultural respect blown out of proportion is depressing.
The football player highlighted the ingrained customs of Northern culture while elaborating on the meaning of his gestures.
Kneeling, shaking hands, and other such gestures are considered the highest forms of respect in our Northern culture. When I greeted the Deputy Governor in this way, it was my purpose.
But in honoring the governor in a deeply ingrained custom, I decided to bow rather than shake his hand when I greeted him,” he said.
Ahmed Musa expressed regret that the incident has attracted so much attention, including from national media sources, taking attention away from more urgent issues the nation is currently facing.
“Unfortunately, this seemingly insignificant moment has drawn so much attention in the midst of all the pressing issues our country faces, including economic hardships, security challenges, religious clashes, and more,” he bemoaned.
The former striker for Leicester City went on, “The remarks that question my respect, especially from people who don’t know me personally, are even more disheartening.”
Instead than wasting their time on pointless diversion, Musa asked Nigerians to focus their energies on finding answers to the country’s challenges.
Let’s take a moment to stop and consider how we want to focus our energies. Wouldn’t it be better spent solving the issues ailing our society than getting sucked into pointless diversion?
“I implore everyone to focus their combined energies on resolving the pressing problems. He said, “Let’s concentrate on encouraging one another, building unity, and striving toward a better future for everyone.
