A group under the auspices of Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) has urged opposition parties in the country to be constructive in criticising governments at the state and national levels.
The National Chairman of COPDEM, Prince Rwang Pam, gave the advice Saturday at the National Convention and Democracy Icons Award organised by the group in Abuja.
Pam, who expressed concern that presently there was no strong political opposition in the country, said opposition was not about developing hatred for a government in power.
“As far as political parties are concerned, we are not hearing their voices. Nobody is actually saying anything.
“An opposition is not about hitting the government or being anti-Tinubu or anti-APC.
“When it is good, say it is good and when it is not good, say it is not good.
“I think that is what an opposition should be; without fear or favour,” he said.
According to him, COPDEM is an opposition, not to politics but to anything that is standing against the health and the well being of the masses.
Pam equally advised politicians, whether in power or not, to love Nigeria and be ready to do the right thing.
He said that the award night was organised to appreciate the champions of democracy.
“Tonight, we pay tribute to the champions of democracy, whose unwavering dedication has paved the way for positive change in our nation, from grassroots activists to visionary leaders.
“Each nominee and award recipient embodies the values of integrity, transparency, and inclusivity that are the cornerstone of a thriving democracy,” he said.
Our correspondent reports that recipients of the icons award include Late President Umaru Ya’Adua; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi and Femi Falana, SAN.
Others include Bishop Mathew Kukah; Late Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili; the Yoruba leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo; Late Dele Giwa; Late Gani Fawehinmi; Sen. Shehu Sani; Oby Ezekwesili, among others.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the event, Peter Obi, who was represented by Chief Peter Ameh, National Secretary of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), dedicated the award to the Nigerian people.

The business community, indigenes, workers, drivers, motorists and market women from across the Nigeria have expressed joy over the completion of the Aleto-Ogale-Ebubu-Eteo road (known as old Bori road) in Eleme local government area of Rivers State that will now serve as an alternative to the East/West road being constructed by the federal government.
The over 11km-road, constructed by the administration of Sir SiminalayiFubara and would be commissioned on Tuesday, reduces travelling time between Port Harcourt and the Ogoni, Ogu/Bolo, Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro axis of the state, and Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
Recall that the East/West road owned by the federal government is presently undergoing reconstruction after being dilapidated for several years, thus causing serious traffic jams and loss of lives and property as recently witnessed in a sad fire incident.
But users of the road are now commending the Rivers State Government led by Governor Fubara for completing the alternative road and making life easy as they go about their daily activities within and outside the state.
A worker at the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) in Onne, Rivers State, Fidelia Okonkwo stated that since the road was completed, going to work everyday has now become more pleasurable and less damaging to her car.
Okonkwo stressed that “The terrible nature of the East/West road really gave us nightmare and one can now imagine the difference this new road has made. I find it so easy to drive to work now, at a time; I parked my car at home and join public transport to work. I must say kudos to the Rivers State government.”
A driver that plies the Port Harcourt-Ikot Abasi route, IdongesitOkon expressed joy over the alternative route, saying he now spends less hours carrying passengers between Rivers and Akwa States, in addition to spending less fixing his car due to the bad state of the road.
He praised the Rivers State Government for delivering on the road, pointing out that when the governor awarded the contract, they thought it was the usual politician way of doing things but that they were shocked when contractors finished the project.
According to him, “Help us thank the governor, God go bless am, we no believe am when he say him go finish the road but now see as the road dey smooth, we dey enjoy am well well.”
An indigene of Aleto-Eleme, Obarilomate Godwin expressed gratitude to the government, stating that the completion of the road would save the community from perennial flooding, in addition to improved movement along the road.
“I am really happy for this road project, before now, during raining season, the road would become flooded and it will be difficult to move around. But now, we are happy that there won’t be flooding and we can easily move from one point to the other.
“I must admit that Governor Fubara is working hard despite the political distractions in the state; we can only ask that he does more for the people of Eleme, we know that the ring road is coming and the contactor is on site, this is really good, we thank him,” he added.
Mrs Agnes Ogwutum, who sells at the Eleme market, while expressing happiness over the road, saying it enables them to move their goods quickly, called on the state government to quickly finish the ongoing ring road project, saying it will help increase the number of people coming to the market.

The Nigeria Customs Service has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the General Administration of Customs, People’s Republic of China, to foster bilateral relationships and enhance economic growth.
This was contained in a statement, yesterday, by the National Public Relations Officer, NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada.
According to the statement, the Comptroller-General of the NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, signed the MoU when he led a management team of the service to Shenzhen metropolis of China.
Speaking during the visit, Adeniyi appreciated the Vice Minister of the Chinese General Administration of Customs, Wang Lingjun, for showing interest in signing the agreement.
Adeniyi explained that the new MoU with China “would boost the countries’ import-export operations and favour the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria,”
“We know a lot of Nigerian companies and Small and Medium Enterprises take advantage of the opportunities aided through e-commerce,” Adeniyi added.
He expressed optimism that the agreement would serve as a critical component of cooperative security and trade relationship between the two countries.
The relationship would create a cooperative mechanism for NCS and the GACC to collaborate on supply chain security standards and enhance the economic stability of both nations, he said.
According to him, these are some of the many reasons the NCS pays attention to what is happening in China.
“As you have said, China is making the biggest trade in Nigeria, and the basic context of international trade is ‘your export, our import’. I appreciate the numbers that you gain in Nigeria. But it is also common knowledge that those numbers sometimes must take account of the large volume of informal trade that exists between us,” the CGC said.
Earlier, Lingjun, who was represented by Sun Yuning, while signing the MoU, expressed satisfaction with Adeniyi’s vision.
Lingjun added that the affiliation between the two government agencies “would serve as a mechanism for creating opportunities that Nigeria and China share on a wide range of economic issues and trade facilitation.”