Abstract
The Preamble also referred to as the ‘whereas clauses’ is a common feature of most national constitutions. The Preamble means different things to different nations. For some nations, the Preamble is an opportunity to reference God or a supreme deity; for others, it is to reference and demonstrate the struggles that went into the creation or attainment of nationhood, the formation of national unity and how that struggle came to define the nation. Yet, other nations’ Preambles just tell a background story like a habendum. In essence, each nation emphasizes what she wishes to drive home about the importance of the constitution and the Preamble to her citizens. The legal status of the Preamble is unclear. It is sometimes considered a preparatory statement towards the ‘real’ clauses. At others times it is interpreted much more forcefully as having a legal status, with a sort of legal muscle that goes beyond just rousing the emotions of the citizens. Be that as it may, this essay will analyze the Preambles to the Nigerian constitutions and make determinations as to their legality, relevance, import, and the different senses in which the Preamble speaks to the national ethos, values, spirit and intentions of the people as evinced from the intentions of the drafters.
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