The Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala has said that his Governor, Abdul’Aziz Yari has sidelined him from the affairs of the state and denied him his rights and privileges.

Speaking to newsmen in Gusau, the state capital on Sunday, Wakkala  said the development followed his decision to contest the governorship seat of the state under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

His words: “For months now, several of the legal fundings that are supposed to be made to my office have been stopped and I have been completely sidelined by the state government.

“This attitude against me started since I indicated interest to run for the governorship of the state on the platform of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). I know that nothing stops me as a citizen from contesting for any elective position.

“So I want those concerned and responsible for the interpretation and implementation of the constitutional provisions that accorded me rights and privileges to explain to me why I am being treated this way.

“If my crime is my declaration, then what about my supporting staff made up of casual staff, feeding of security personnel, fuelling and services of vehicles attached to my office, what have they done to have their allowances stopped.“

Wakkala further said that he had still not been officially communicated that the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji would be serving as Acting Governor of the state.

“I knew this on the pages of newspapers, the social media and when the state Commissioner of Information told a journalist that I am being treated this way because I belong to the G8 group.

“My concern at the moment, however, is to see that Zamfara is free from all these security challenges where the killings, kidnappings and animal rustling have taken charge,” he added.