NIGERIA- Drama occurred yesterday in Abuja, Nigeria, when the Supervisory Education Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, displayed his political strength by sending a representative of the Rivers State Commissioner of Education out of a meeting of commissioners of education.

Wike, who is an arch-rival of the embattled Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, was said to be furious when the representative of the commissioner, Mrs. Alice   Lawrence-Nemi,  introduced himself as his personal assistance.

Sources said the fact that the commissioner sent a personal assistant to represent her at the meeting drew the ire of the minister.

 "What an insult? Not even a permanent secretary or a director. Must you people play politics with everything?  I cannot take this. This is a decision-making forum. My friend you have to excuse us," he said.

Wike had earlier expressed displeasure that the Ondo State commissioner was also represented by a deputy director at what was supposed to be a crucial meeting.

The personal assistant, who hurriedly scurried out of the meeting, refused to talk to the press.