Labour Party gubernatorial candidate of Oyo State, Otunba Alao-Akala, has taken his defeat in good faith, saying that it would make him and his supporters stronger.

Alao-Akala, in a statement issued in Ibadan and signed by his Director of Public affairs, Oludare Ogunlana, thanked those who voted for him and some LP lawmaker candidates, saying defeat makes people stronger.

“We will go back to the drawing board to see where we went wrong and readjust for future aspiration. Our supporters should not be sad, rather they should be happy that a party they joined few months ago is able to make a good showing at the poll,” he said.

He also advised the people of the state to cooperate with Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

“No government can work on its own; the people must cooperate and contribute their own quota to the development of the state,” he advised.

The former governor was said to have put a call through to the governor after being informed about situation of things by his agents at the collation centre, before the results were announced.

“My decision to congratulate the governor was borne out of the need to respect the people’s wish and in order for the state to move forward. Based on this, I advise the governor to be magnanimous in victory and device ways of taking the state to higher heights,” he said.

Akala reaffirmed that he did not see himself as a loser as he heeded the people’s call to serve.

Emphasising the need to run a masses-oriented government, he said: “At this point in time, all governmental policies must reflect the yearning and aspirations of the people. The governor should, as a matter of obligatory, deploy all resources at his disposal for the overall development of the state, not leaving any region behind.”

•Photo shows Alao-Akala.