A group of Bayelsa elders and traditional leaders, under the aegis of Bayelsa Elders for Progress, Peace and Good Governance (BEPPGG), on Saturday, said that some aides of President Mohammadu Buhari from the Niger Delta are frustrating the proposed dialogue between the federal government and Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

In an open letter to the President, the elders, led by High Chief Ayibatonye Goodnews and Secretary, Chief Lucky Ebifaghe, said that the activities of key officials, including the Minister of state for Petroleum, Ibe Kachichukwu and the coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh, were hampering the peace efforts.

The group insisted that the President should investigate the recent meeting between Boroh and Kachikwu, noting that Boroh should be probed by the presidency.

The letter reads, “President Buhari should investigate the genuiness of purported meetings held between the Presidential Amnesty Boss,Paul Boroh and Dr. Ibe Kachichukwu.

“How can they claim to have met stakeholders and the militant attacks continues? They met some fake militants and stakeholders and wasted scarce resources of the Federal Government on jamboree.”

“The Amnesty Boss, who claimed to have relocated to the creeks of the region was only sighted in Tompolo’s community with clandestine meetings without solution to the continued bombing of the Oil and Gas facilities. Buhari should investigate the money expended on the jamboree without result.We insist that the Presidential Amnesty Office should be probed following the alleged failed sharing of resources to fake Avengers.

“The lack of knowledge on key issues of the region and wrong signals sent to militants along the creeks are frustrating the needed peace process. Many purported stakeholders have made money from the self created jamboree in the region. Genuine Niger Delta Stakeholders should be consulted for sustained peace.”

Speaking on the decision of President Buhari to led the negotiation, the elders said, ”we are happy and elated that the dialogue will become successful and witnessed needed peace and growth in the region”

Mazi Emeka