As the aroma of Hilda Baci’s record-breaking jollof rice still lingers from last night’s chaotic Gino Jollof Festival, financial influencer Gehgeh has ignited a firestorm on X with a biting critique that cuts deep into Nigeria’s socio-economic sore spots. In a now-viral post, the self-proclaimed “Africa’s most Experienced financial coach” with over 100,000 followers declared: “Hilda Baci’s Biggest Pot of Jollof Rice Just Exposed Nigeria as a Poor and Hungry Country.”
Gehgeh’s words, delivered with his trademark no-holds-barred style, landed amid the festival’s dramatic aftermath—where Baci’s 22,619-liter pot buckled during weigh-in, but not before drawing 20,000 ticket-paying fans (at ₦15,000 each) to Eko Hotel, generating an estimated ₦300 million in curiosity-driven revenue. The entrepreneur, known for his blunt takes on wealth-building and fiscal folly, argued that the massive turnout—complete with celebrities like Funke Akindele stirring the pot—highlights “misplaced priorities” in a nation grappling with 33% inflation, soaring food prices, and widespread unemployment. “The biggest problem with Nigerians is not hunger… it’s misplaced priorities with little sense of purpose,” echoed one supporter, amplifying the sentiment in a thread that racked up 19,000 views.
The post, which quickly trended alongside #HildaBaciJollof, taps into a broader online backlash questioning the event’s optics: Why flock to watch 250 bags of rice (over 5,000 kg) simmer when Boko Haram raids rage in the North and basic staples like a ₦60,000 bag of rice strain household budgets? Critics like radio host Radiogad piled on, calling it a “pathetic” showcase of “jobless and hungry” youth skipping work for spectacle, while others mocked the barefoot pot-washing videos as emblematic of desperation. “20k people paid to watch rice boil while the nation starves for leadership,” one user fumed, drawing parallels to IMF warnings of acute hunger risks in 2025.
Not everyone agrees. Baci’s defenders hail the event as a unifying cultural flex—free jollof for thousands, a GWR rep’s “delicious” verdict, and President Tinubu’s praise for “Nigerian excellence”—arguing it spotlights resilience over poverty. “Hilda’s turning hunger into history,” one fan countered, while another quipped, “Waste rice? Nah, feeding Lagos for free 😂.” Gehgeh himself, unfazed by the 25+ replies flooding his mentions, doubled down in follow-ups, urging followers to “channel that energy into demanding accountability” instead of clout-chasing feasts.
As Baci awaits official Guinness certification—pot collapse be damned—Gehgeh’s takedown has shifted the narrative from culinary triumph to a raw reckoning with inequality. In a country where rice prices have tripled amid economic woes, is this jollof a badge of pride or a painful mirror? The debate rages on, proving once again that in Nigeria, even a pot of rice can boil over into national soul-searching.