Ahmed Musa clears the air regarding viral video with Kano governor

Super Eagles of Nigeria captain Ahmed Musa has addressed a misunderstanding that stemmed from an incident with the Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in March.

In a video now making rounds on social media, Musa was captured kneeling and shaking the Kano State Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo. However, the ex-Kano Pillars star didn’t shake the extended hands of the Governor and opted to kneel instead.

Musa’s gesture has sparked accusations and question marks over his courtesy and respect for the governor’s office, with prominent media outlets fanning the controversial flames.

The 31-year-old has consequently taken to his social media platforms to explain the significance of the gesture in Northern culture, emphasising that he intended to show the highest form of respect to the number one citizen of the state.

“It has come to my attention that a moment captured almost a month ago, has unexpectedly become the centre of attention on social media. It’s disheartening to see a simple act of cultural respect blown out of proportion,” Musa wrote.

“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, honouring him in a way that is deeply rooted in tradition.”

The Super Eagles top goalscorer in the FIFA World Cup (four goals in two outings) continued by expressing his disappointment with the concerned trend of national media outlets like ARISE TV propagating false and trivia incidents and diverting focus away from more critical issues ravaging the country.

“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,” Musa said.

“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.”