Agboola Ajayi, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo, has promised to end the perennial sea incursion in the Aiyetoro community in the Ilaje Local Government Area.

During his campaign tour to the Ajagba community in Ese-Odo LGA on Tuesday, Mr Ajayi said his administration would reclaim the community from the sea incursion if given the chance to govern the state in the November 16 election.

The annual sea incursion in Aiyetoro had ravaged the community, destroying properties worth millions of naira and eroding half of the riverine area.

Amid the calls to save the community and its residents, the Ondo State government had repeatedly said its resources could not address the sea incursion, thereby demanding the federal government’s intervention.  

While appreciating the people for standing firm in the face of threats to their properties by the sea incursion, Mr Ajayi criticised Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration for abandoning the people of the area.

He said, “This is a high level of patriotism you have shown us today. I can assure you, sir, if we get to the office by February of next year, we will 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.”

Mr Ajayi said that if he becomes the state’s next governor, he would also create more permanent towns in the riverine areas.

Earlier, the traditional ruler of Ajagba Kingdom, Godwin Aboyewa, pleaded with the PDP candidate to assist in saving Aiyetoro from being washed away.

Mr Aboyewa said if Aiyetoro was not saved from total extinction, his community might not be spared of the avoidable disaster.