Politics
‘Ukraine does not defend Hungary’, Orban says in Zelenskyy rebuff
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has dismissed accusations from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he is showing “specific support for Putin” by obstructing Ukraine’s EU membership talks.
In an interview with Euronews on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said he had no intention of offering concessions to Budapest, arguing that Hungary should instead support Ukraine’s defence of Europe.
“I don’t think that I have to offer something to Viktor Orbán,” Zelenskyy said.
“I think that Viktor Orbán has to offer something for Ukraine, which is protecting the whole Europe from Russia, and even now, during this war, we did not get any support from him, support for our vision of life,” he added.
Orbán dismissed the comments in a statement released shortly after the Euronews interview.
“I must reject the suggestion that Hungary owes Ukraine anything. Ukraine does not defend Hungary from anyone or anything. We did not ask for such a thing, and we never will. Hungary’s security is guaranteed by our national defence capabilities and by NATO, of which Ukraine is fortunately not a member,” Orbán said.
He noted that Hungary has provided approximately €200 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and continues to supply gas and electricity to the war-torn country.
The Prime Minister also reiterated Hungary’s opposition to Ukraine’s EU membership bid.
“Hungary does not and will not support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, because it would bring the war into Europe and take the money of Hungarians to Ukraine,” Orbán said, adding that he would prefer to see Ukraine as a strategic partner of the EU rather than a full member.
Hungary continues to block the opening of EU accession chapters with Ukraine, citing security and economic concerns. Earlier this year, the Hungarian government held a non-binding national consultation on Ukraine’s membership, in which 95% of respondents opposed the idea.
Instead, he says he is in favour of a “strategic partnership” with Ukraine.
Tensions between Hungary and Ukraine have escalated over energy security since the summer following Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s Druzhba pipeline that temporarily halted oil deliveries to Hungary on several occasions.
Budapest decried the strikes as “outrageous and unacceptable” while Kyiv accused Hungary of not doing enough to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels and therefore funding part of the country’s war machine.
This point should be one addressed between Orban and US President Donald Trump when they meet on Friday in the US.
Chairman, Policy Manifesto Committee of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, John Odigie-Oyegun, says former president Muhammadu Buhari gave him the shock of his life, six months into his administration as Nigeria’s leader.
Oyegun made this disclosure on Friday when he featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.
He revealed that as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he went to tell Buhari that he was not delivering his election promises to Nigerians but that the late president told him he would not rule with strictness, but rather wanted to show Nigerians that he is a true civilian president.
The former APC National Chairman lamented that it became business as usual, from there.
“I was national chairman of the APC. Six months or less into our assuming office, fairly alarmed, I went to the late President Buhari for a one-on-one talk. I said Mr President, this is not what the people were expecting. They wanted a bit of the old president Buhari.
“And he explained to me, Mr Chairman, I have learned my lesson. I was shocked. And don’t forget at that time, a lot of prominent Nigerians took their holidays abroad, just to be sure and see what this new sheriff in town will be.
“Buhari told me he wants to now show the people that he’s a true civilian president in Agbada. And by the time we finished the conversation, I said Oh God, we are finished. Because, if he’s not ready to be strict, what’s the point?
“Weeks later, months later, years later, I was proven correct. And of course, it became business as usual, only that they are a new set of tenants in Aso Rock. That was a shocker,” he said.
Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye Esq, has raised concerns over the Senate’s reported rejection of the electronic transmission of election results.
The move, according to Melaye, is a clear endorsement of election rigging and an indication of a sinister plan to rig the 2027 elections.
In a statement on Friday, the former lawmaker criticized the Senate’s decision, stating that it undermines the credibility of the electoral process.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC chieftain, also stated that the move opens the door for electoral manipulation and fraud.
He further warned that the rejection of electronic transmission of results is a step backwards for democracy in Nigeria.
Melaye called on lawmakers and citizens to stand up against “this blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people and ensure that future elections are free, fair, and transparent”.
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has said Nigerians have every reason to be mad at the Senate over the ongoing debate on e-transmission of election results.
Ezekwesili made this known on Friday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ monitored by DAILY POST.
DAILY POST reports that the Senate on Wednesday turned down a proposed change to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Amendment Bill that aimed to compel the electronic transmission of election results.
Reacting to the matter, Ezekwesili said, “The fundamental issue with the review of the Electoral Act is that the Senate retained the INEC 2022 Act, Section 60 Sub 5.
“This section became infamous for the loophole it provided INEC, causing Nigerians to lose trust. Since the law established that it wasn’t mandatory for INEC to transmit electoral results in real-time, there wasn’t much anyone could say.
“Citizens embraced the opportunity to reform the INEC Act, aiming to address ambiguity and discretionary opportunities for INEC. Yet, the Senate handled it with a “let sleeping dogs lie” approach. The citizens have every reason to be as outraged as they currently are.”
How Buhari shocked me 6 months into his administration – Oyegun
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