The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, denied Thursday insinuations that he was recently invited by President Muhammadu Buhari over the Ilorin-Jebba express road contract.

The traditional ruler, in a statement through the National Secretary of Shehu Alimi Foundation for Peace and Development, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, expressed concern over such insinuations saying it is extremely condemnable and capable of causing undesired havoc in the country.

Part of the statement reads: “I have never taken contract either for myself or any other body or group of people from the federal government in my life. I have always maintained high level of integrity and honesty in my career as a judicial officer until I relinquished the position as Presiding Judge in the Court of Appeal in 1995 and I still maintained my stand as the Emir of Ilorin.

“At no time have ever lobbied for contract from the Federal Government or any of its agents. The allegation is not only reckless but it is also extremely damaging to my personality as a highly placed traditional ruler in the country. I was never invited by the President neither was I invited by any of the anti-graft agencies.

“When the Minister for Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), visited Kwara State recently on road inspection tour, as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria that he is, I expected that he will come to the palace on courtesy visit but I was later told that he has gone. Nigerians should be well informed that the resumption of work on the road by the contractor should be regarded as the federal government’s commitment to the welfare of the citizenry as promised during the electioneering campaigns.”