The Jollof rice war has reached the presidential level with Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo coming out to defend his country as having the best of the West African delicacy.
Is the Jollof rice war over? Nigerian Vice President assumes conquest
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“Nigerian Jollof Rice Is The BEST”- ProfOsinbajo cc: DrJoeAbah akandeoj jag_bros Ayourb trueNija abikedabiri pic.twitter.com/DzjscFdNSg
— APC United Kingdom (APCUKingdom) May 1, 2017
His assertion over the weekend was in reaction to Information Minister Lai Mohammed’s internationally televised assumption that Senegal makes the best Jollof rice.
What was Lai Mohammed thinking about? pic.twitter.com/aqi7oFRnb9— Dr. Aminu Gamawa (@aminugamawa) April 29, 2017
Lai Mohammed’s words were described as treasonous by Nigerians on social media who attacked him for betraying them in a decade-old battle with Ghana over who has the best Jollof rice.
Are we going to ignore the fact that Lai Mohammed has betrayed the Nigerian Jollof Legacy punishable under the Nigerian Jollof Acts of 1960?— Onini Salma (@hrh_salma) April 30, 2017
After going to war with Ghana over this jollof. Lai Mohammed whyyyy pic.twitter.com/e9xu9omxmD— Ugõ (@UgoTalksAlot) April 28, 2017
of course no issue is complete without KraksTV 's Ayé le submission - Lai Mohammed and Senegal Jollof rice pic.twitter.com/7d595Hvl6Q
— Y! Online (YNaija) April 29, 2017
“We all know that Nigerian Jollof rice is the best! We beat the Ghanaians and the Senegalese hands down,” Vice President Yemi Osibanjo came to the rescue of Mohammed who was believed to have misunderstood the question.
To be clear. The Minister misheard he thought I asked, who first created jollof rice – hence his (correct) answer Senegal.— Richard Quest (@richardquest) April 28, 2017
Richard Quest clarifies Lai Mohammed's response on Jollof rice
Says Senegal was in response2 where it originated frmpic.twitter.com/WNZy3tOjBL— Kemi Ariyo (@d_problemsolver) April 30, 2017
Osibanjo went further to spearhead the Nigerian pride by citing the country’s achievements worldwide including the recent victory of British-Nigerian boxer and heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
“We have everything, and our people are doing incredibly innovative things. For example, we are at the moment developing the most sophisticated animation technology in Africa.
“Our music and entertainment industry is the fastest growing in the world. Nigerians have won every prize in literature, from the Noble prize to the Pulitzer.
“Only last year, a Nigerian girl won a gold medal at the Olympics, Morolake Akinosun. Last Saturday, a Nigerian boxer won the world heavyweight title. Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua won the WBA becoming the boxing champion of the world.
“Last year Oluyinka Olutoye, a Nigerian surgeon successfully took out a baby from her mother’s womb, operated on the womb, and put the baby back in, and the baby was carried full term and was born naturally — a feat previously unheard of.
“And of course, nobody is as funny as Nigerians, whether profession or amateur. We even have a member of the national assembly who recently launched a CD; Aje kun iya ni o je. Who hasn’t heard of Aje kun iya ni o je.
“We are the most innovative entrepreneurs. The other day someone showed me a text; the young man had invited him to a book launch titled: Seven Steps to Becoming a Professional Whistleblower,” he said at a church event on the theme: Nigeria Recovering from Economic Recession.
What is Jollof rice?
Jollof rice is a common dish in West Africa that derived its name from the Wolof people of Senegal, hence its undebatable Senegalese origin.
Among the countries that consume this dish are Senegal, Gambia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Cameroon, Mali and Ghana.
However, two countries – Ghana and Nigeria – have adopted the dish as not only a cultural delicacy, but a subject of contention as to who prepares it best.
So that was how Nigerians lost the Jollof Rice?? battle to Senegal who weren't even in the contest . Mr Lai Mohammed, weldone sir pic.twitter.com/9iElj0SRU5— |SEA ®™| (@DaGreatSEA) April 28, 2017
The reddish one-pot dish is prepared with rice and tomoato sauce with alternative ingredients that slightly vary by country.
Common ingredients: Tomatoes, pepper, onions, vegetable oil, salt, curry, garlic, ginger, rice and meat, fish or eggs.
Watch the video below to see how Jollof rice is prepared.
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