A functioning, robust democracy requires a healthy educated, participatory followership, and an educated, morally grounded leadership.

The statement frames democracy as a reciprocal civic ecosystem rather than a mechanism that runs on elections alone. Achebe stresses that “followership” matters: citizens must be educated, engaged, and willing to participate beyond passive consent, because an uninformed or apathetic public can be manipulated or disengage from accountability. At the same time, he insists leadership must be not only competent but ethically anchored—“morally grounded”—so that power is exercised as stewardship rather than predation. The pairing implies that democratic failure is often a joint breakdown: corrupt or cynical elites thrive where civic education and participation are weak, while even well-designed institutions falter without both responsible leaders and an active, informed populace.