A former member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Shina Peller, has debunked reports of him snubbing the Minister for Power, Bayo Adelabu at a recent event that they both attended in Lagos.
Peller clarified the alleged snubbing in a statement he shared on his social media platforms and with the press on Tuesday.
The statement was in reaction to a recent video circulating on social media purportedly showing a perceived snub of the minister by Honourable Peller.
Describing the allegation of snubbing as unfounded, Peller, who is the Ayedero of Yorubaland, shared video evidence of himself and the minister embracing and greeting each other warmly at the event.
Furthermore, Peller highlighted the significance of greetings in his faith as a Muslim. “In Islam, greeting others is considered an act of charity,” he wrote.
In addition, Peller reiterated that he prioritises extending greetings to individuals as a way of upholding his principles and fostering positive interactions.
The statement reads in full:
“This is to address a recent video circulating, purporting to show a perceived snub of the Minister for Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu, by myself.
“First and foremost, it is important to clarify that the allegations of snubbing are unfounded. The Honourable Minister and I have a respectful relationship, and I did indeed greet him at the event in question. The dissemination of this video appears to be driven by motives that do not align with the truth. Chief Adelabu himself knows that the allegation is unfounded because I greeted him.
“Moreover, I wish to emphasise the significance of greetings in my faith as a Muslim. Greeting others is considered an act of charity in Islam, and I make it a priority to extend greetings to individuals at every opportunity. This act of goodwill reflects my values and principles in interactions with others. It is never in my character to snub people regardless of the situation or my relationship with the person.
“I hold no animosity towards the Honourable Minister. Our relationship transcends political affiliations, and I sincerely wish him success in his current role and any future endeavours he may undertake.
“In closing, I reaffirm that there is no lingering discord between the Honourable Minister and myself. I promptly congratulated him on his appointment to the esteemed position of Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, demonstrating our cordial association. Chief Adelabu is my brother and vice versa. People shouldn’t bring up enmity where there is none.
“I trust that this clarification addresses any misconceptions surrounding the alleged incident.
Your understanding and support in upholding truth and harmony in public discourse are greatly appreciated.”