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Hargeysa, Somaliland, June 30, 2012 (SL Times) – Unlike his colleagues,
the minister of Post and communication, Ali Jama Geelle, does not drive
to and from his work but instead goes there on foot. He also walks to
the market when he needs to do shopping.
The fact that he does not use government supplied vehicles for these
matters has drawn the attention of the public in Hargeysa who are used
to watching ministers using government vehicles even for their private
businesses let alone government duties.
Answering a question from the press on why he walks to his office, the
minister said that he has a car but he likes walking and that was he was
doing it.
In response to a question about why he walked around without bodyguards,
the minister said he has bodyguards but they stay in the office and he
only takes them along with cars when he is visiting other regions.
In addition to the fact that he enjoys walking, Mr. Ali Jama Geelle gave
three additional reasons why he prefers walking to driving. First, the
country is safe and he feels he can go anywhere without worrying about
his safety. Second, he was a teacher for a long time and is comfortable
among the people because he taught many of them. Third, he wants to show
that being a minister is not such a big deal and that one can be a
minister and live an ordinary life.
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