If Bereket Simon, the spin-doctor of the Revolutionary Democrats, has achieved his goal of authoring the bestselling and most widely read book narrating the tale of the two last national elections, it is too early to tell. Nonetheless, if his intentions were to become the most controversial politician of the week, he most certainly has succeeded in doing that, claims gossip.

This is less so for the substance of his recently released book, the launch of which, at Sheraton Addis, caused so much furore among members of the public. The manner in which the book was published, with the printing cost covered by Mohammed Hussein Ali Al-Amoudi (Sheikh), appears to have turned the book from a tale of two elections to a “tale of two personalities,” gossip noticed.

Such was the talk across town all about how a wealthy businessman made an otherwise unbecoming statement, in public, about one of the most influential and powerful politicians of the day, gossip observed. Even those around the Sheikh were seen feeling awkward to defend him, being disarmed by his assertions that he would recommend a book he has not read to be educational to members of the new generation.

There has been a passionate disapproval by many after seeing a well-heeled businessman speak of a senior government official in a manner that was distasteful, if not repulsive.

This feeling was mutual among some of the rank and file in the Revolutionary Democratic camp. Some were left bowled over, unable to explain the uncalled-for statements made by one of their revered leaders.

The verdict from those at the gossip corridors over the launching night of Bereket’s book is overwhelmingly not in his favour. Those who would not mind to give him the benefit of the doubt agree that he suffers from a self-inflicted wound, a “shot in the foot” kind of incident diplomats often like to describe.

The episode has left those at the gossip corridors with a lot more questions than answers.

In the eyes and judgment of many at the gossip corridors, a politician of Bereket’s stature in the ruling party has fallen under the criticism of foes and friends alike for needing help from a businessman to get hospitalised in South Africa in the aftermath of a bitterly fought electoral battle in which he had been a key figure. It would have been proper for the state to look after the wellbeing of its own officials, according to those at the gossip corridors.

Equally, he has been criticised for reaching out to a businessman while his own party, the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM), could have paid for the printing of the book. He could have received the services of Mega Printing, a subsidiary of the Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray (EFFORT), a party-affiliated company, others criticised.

It troubled people to see senior government officials give little regard to protocol and to public sensitivities and to say things in the open that ought to have been kept as private matters, the consensus at the gossip corridors has it.

Ironically, the circumstances of the book launching and the nature of the relationship that Bereket, the public official, has developed with Al-Amoudi, the tycoon – the degree of intimacy they themselves have brought into the open – has left little room for readers of his book to discuss the merits of its content. With hardly any voice attempting to justify his last week’s conduct, many were keen to talk about their displeasure, if not disappointments, with Bereket, gossip observed.