The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 gubernatorial election in Ondo state, Agboola Ajayi, has promised to reclaim Aiyetoro community in Ilaje Local Government Area from incessant sea incursions if elected governor of the state.
Ajayi made the pledge in the Ajapa community during the PDP campaign in Ese-Odo Local Government Area.
The traditional ruler of Ajapa Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Godwin Aboyewa, had pleaded with Ajayi to assist in saving Aiyetoro from being washed away.
The continued existence of the ancient community has been under the threat of recurrent ocean surges for a long time.
The Ajapa monarch said if Aiyetoro was not saved from total extinction, his community might not be spared of the avoidable disaster.
The PDP standard bearer assured the monarch that Aiyetoro would be saved from extinction if he could be elected governor of the state in the coming election.
Ajayi said: “I want to appreciate the brotherly love you have displayed here today that you want us to save the Aiyetoro community from total extinction.
“This is a high level of patriotism you have shown us today. I can assure you sir, if we get to office by February of next year February, we would chase the sea away from the Aiyetoro community by at least two kilometres.
“It is not going to be by magic. It is something we are prepared to do since the present APC administration in Ondo state seems to have run short of ideas of how they can save the Ayetoro community.
“We are prepared to give the people back their city and even ready to create more permanent towns in our riverine areas for our people.”
Other communities visited by the PDP candidate in the local government area include Bolowo, Arogbo and Igbekebo.