IGWEBUIKE: African Journal of Arts and Humanities

This study examines the interconnected roles of responsible leadership and civic responsibility in Nigerian society through a literary analysis of D. Olu Olagoke’s The Iroko Man and the Wood-Carver. Drawing on Moral Leadership theory and Social Contract theory, the paper explores how authority, morality, and communal values are represented in the text and how these representations reflect contemporary leadership and citizenship challenges in Nigeria. The Iroko Man is analyzed as a symbol of ethical authority and guardianship, while the wood carver represents the ordinary citizen whose actions have broader social consequences. The study argues that social harmony and sustainable development depend on the mutual accountability of leaders and citizens, rather than on leadership alone. By situating the narrative within the Nigerian socio-cultural context, the paper demonstrates that African folklore remains a relevant medium for moral instruction and civic education. The findings suggest that Nigeria’s leadership crisis is deeply intertwined with citizens' neglect of civic duties, and that meaningful social transformation requires a collective commitment to ethical leadership and civic-responsible followership.

Open Full Text (PDF)