Dr. Faisal Shuaibu Is Bouncing Back: Why Old-Style Politics Has Failed

Dr. Faisal Shuaibu is bouncing back, stronger, wiser, and more determined.

Yet, some politicians are still trapped in yesterday, clinging to an outdated style of politics rooted in attacks, character assassination, and misleading propaganda. They have failed to realise that the world has changed, the political space has evolved, and, most importantly, the people of Nasarawa state are no longer the same.

The era when unsubstantiated petitions, personal insults, and backdoor tactics could be used to gain political advantage is long gone. Such methods are not only crooked and dishonest; they are lazy approaches to politics. The common man neither appreciates them nor uses them as a yardstick when deciding where to cast his vote.

Recently, a poorly written and weak petition was submitted to the EFCC against Dr. Faisal Shuaibu, clearly intended to slow down his political rise and paint him black in the eyes of the people of Nasarawa State. Predictably, the petition failed flat. It lacked substance, credibility, and merit; confirming what many already knew: it was a desperate political move, not a genuine quest for accountability.

There are strong insinuations that a Nasarawa politician, popularly referred to as the “TikTok Senator,” is behind this failed petition. Political observers say this is hardly surprising. The senator has earned a reputation for resorting to lazy tactics, believing that maligning opponents is the only pathway to political relevance. Instead of selling ideas, vision, or competence, he prefers smear campaigns and backdoor manoeuvres.

More troubling are reports that the same ‘TikTok Senator’ has been going around telling anyone who cares to listen that he single-handedly brought the current Chairman of the EFCC to office. This claim, by all standards, is laughable. Even a child understands the process of appointing the EFCC Chairman and can easily tell whether such a claim is true or false. Such grandstanding only exposes a dangerous level of arrogance and a poor understanding, or deliberate misrepresentation of how institutions of state actually function.

Nasarawa politics ahead of 2027 is, however, witnessing a radical shift. The people are no longer distracted by noise. They are asking serious questions about aspirants’ competence, civility, experience, integrity, and exposure. Beyond credentials, voters are now examining attitudes, how aspirants relate with stakeholders and opponents , how they treat elders, and how they have engaged those who once supported or worked with them.

This new political consciousness leaves no room for bitterness, vendettas, or recycled tricks.

The ‘TikTok Senator’ should take note: attacks, petitions, and self-glorifying tales of influence are outdated tools. They no longer work. Dr. Faisal Shuaibu is bouncing back, and no amount of blackmail, failed petitions, or empty boasts can stop the will of the people.

In the end, it is the masses that will speak, and they are already speaking, loudly and beautifully.

~ Mainasara writes from Maraba, Karu LGA, Nasarawa State.