Reno Omokri Defends Super Falcons’ Kneeling to President Tinubu, Calls Gesture Cultural Respect

Political commentator and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has spoken out in strong defence of the Super Falcons after a wave of online criticism followed their decision to kneel while greeting President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu during their recent visit to Aso Rock.

The Nigerian women’s national football team had paid a courtesy call to the President following their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). During the reception, some players were seen kneeling as a sign of respect while receiving commendations from the President and his wife a gesture that drew mixed reactions on social media.

While some critics described the act as outdated and humiliating, especially for international athletes representing the country, Reno Omokri dismissed such views as misguided and disrespectful to cultural values.

In a social media post, Omokri stated that kneeling was a sign of humility and proper upbringing, not a mark of subjugation. He supported his argument by sharing a photo of former British Prime Minister Theresa May curtsying before Prince William, noting that even in Western cultures, gestures of deference toward royalty or high office are not uncommon.

According to him, “Only uncultured and uncouth people consider such a civilised and virtuous action as undignified.” He emphasized that kneeling to greet elders or leaders is deeply rooted in Nigerian traditions and does not diminish the worth or achievement of those who do it.

Omokri also recalled instances where Nigerian public figures including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, and even music star Wizkid had knelt or prostrated in public as a sign of humility and cultural respect. He maintained that such gestures should be seen as honourable, not embarrassing.

He further warned against politicizing the team’s visit or attempting to shame the players into abandoning cultural norms, stressing that reverence and respect for leadership should not be mistaken for weakness or servitude.

The Super Falcons’ visit to the State House had been widely celebrated as a moment of national pride. However, the gesture of kneeling reignited conversations around the balance between tradition, modernity, and global representation especially for Nigerian women in sports.

Omokri’s remarks have added fuel to the ongoing public debate, with many Nigerians now taking a fresh look at the cultural significance of such gestures in both local and global contexts.