By Emlproperties

History
The place known as Orlu zone or Imo west senatorial district comprises 12 LGA. Although under Imo state, majority of the local government and her people have overtime forged a strong political bond.

The LGA that comprises the zone used to be under one old Orlu division in the colonial era. But due to the policy of decentralization, new LGA’s were created to give the large population a sense of belonging.

It is important to note that the likes of Onuimo (now in Okigwe zone), Ihiala, parts of Aguata, Nnewi South, and Orumba (all in Anambra) that were once under the old Orlu division are not part of the current make-up of Orlu. Each of them now fall under different senatorial zones and states.
The LGA that makes up present Orlu zone are as follows:

1. Orlu
2. Orsu
3. Oru west
4. Oru east
5. Oguta
6. Ideato north
7. Ideato south
8. Ohaji/Egbema
9. Nwangele
10. Isu
11. Njaba
12. Nkwerre

The Orlu Identity
Orlu senatorial zone should not be confused with Orlu which is both a town and a local government area. Orlu itself is a name of a village called Orlu Gedegum with an Igwe Orlu from the house of Achilonu. But don’t get confused when a person from Isu LGA for instance tells you that he’s from Orlu. Why?

The reason is because people in the the 12 LGA regard themselves as Orlu people; they do same till today despite the differences in the local government names.

Origin
Orlu people are mainly of Isu stock of the Igbo people. However, there are also people with Oru, Orsu, Aro, Ukwuani and Ikwerre heritage. People from Oguta town (not Oguta LGA) are of the same stock with Ndiosimili Ukwuani people of Delta state with similar spoken dialect. Ohaji share same kinship with the Ikwerre. Orsu people share same heritage with those from Nnewi south; the Oru’s on the other hand are the same kins with people from Ihiala, while Ideato have same links with people from Aguata.

Cultural Festival
The popular festivals celebrated by people of this zone are thus:
1. New Yam festival (Iriji/Iwaji/Omerife)
2. Owu (pronounced Oghu)
3. Mmanwu
4. Ekeleke
5. Ikeji
6. Okorosha
7. Okonko
8. Ebuebu

Language
Orlu people speak the Isuama dialect of the Igbo language. Though variations exist in some communities, but are mutually understandable by all. In Oguta town for instance, their dialect is similar to what is spoken in Aboh Delta state and Ndoni Rivers state. The dialect spoken in Ohaji is similar to what is spoken in Ikwerre. However the rest of Orlu people speak mutually intelligible dialect to what is spoken in the rest of Imo state as well as Ihiala LGA, Nnewi South, Aguata and Orumba LGA’s of Anambra state.

Industry
Orlu people are prominent in the pharmaceutical industry. There are also a lot of them doing several businesses in major Nigerian cities. In the village however, farming, trading and fishing are the main occupation.

Economy
Orlu zone boast the oil producing communities of Imo state. The oil wells and gas pipelines in the Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Oru east LGA’s are the main oil producing areas in Imo state. Although Ngor-Okpala, Mbaitoli, Owerri west and Ikeduru LGA’s under Owerri zone are marked as oil bearing, but they are yet to be tapped by the state.

In 2006, Addax petroleum the Canadanian prospecting oil firm struck oil in the Njaba river basin. But the area is still untapped and will be a future goldmine for the state.https://www.ogj.com/exploration-development/article/17276224/addax-reports-oil-discovery-in-nigeria

Agriculture
Orlu boast large plantation of cashew, palm oil and other cash crops. Famous amongst them are the Adapalm plantation in Ohaji, cashew plantation in the Njaba/Isu forest and rubber plantation in Obiti Egbema. The fishing industry in Oguta and a host of other agro investment potentials in the state.

Tourism
Orlu zone boast much tourist attractions. Such as:
1. Oguta lake
2. Oguta golf course built by Late Dee Sam Mbakwe
3. The Ekwe caves in Isu LGA
4. The famous Ikeji festival in Arondizuogu
5. Holy Trinity Cathedral Orlu
6. Ngwu Natural Spring Nkwerre
7. Palm Beach Holiday Resort Awo-Omama
8. Iyi Ogidi Spring Amaifeke
9. Eke Njaba
10. Urashi waterfall
11. And a host of others.

Industrialization
Orlu zone boast multinational companies such as:
1. Nigerian Breweries (formerly Consolidated Breweries) at Awo-Ommama Oru East
2. Ada Palm at Ohaji
3. Oguta Port (now moribund)
4. Rubber Estate at Obiti Egbema (now moribund)
5. Walter Smith Modular refinery Egbema
6. Seplat Gas Processing Company Ohaji
7. International Market Orlu
8. Imo State Cardboard Industry Orlu
9. Orlu Stadium

Higher Institution
1. IMSUTH Orlu
2. Imo Poly Ohaji
3. School of Nursing Amaigbo
4. School of Nursing & Technology Okporo
5. Hezekiah University Nkwerre
6. Eastern Palm University Ogboko
7. Immigration Training School Umuowa

Politics
Orlu zone is politically strong when it comes to Imo politics. Since 1999 during the return of democracy, the zone has interchanged government among themselves. Aside from when Ohakim from Okigwe zone ruled as Governor, the likes of Achike Udenwa, Rochas Okorocha and now Hope Uzodimma are all from Orlu zone. Although not fair, the zone is always advantageous because of the 12 LGA it has which dwarfs those in other zones of Imo state.

Quest for State Creation
Orlu has been at the front for a sixth South-East state. Since the 2nd republic, Senator Arthur Nzeribe spearheaded the Orashi state movement encompassing the 12 Orlu LGA’s to be joined with Onelga and Ahoada in present Rivers state. The move however got the backing of the national assembly in 2005.

But there was a disagreement between Governor Udenwa and Senator Nzeribe on things like name, geographical boundary and capital.

While Udenwa and later joined by Mbadinuju wanted Njaba/Anim state inclusive of parts of Anambra south but with the capital in Orlu town, Nzeribe wanted Orashi state with Ahoada and ONELGA to be part of it but with capital in Oguta. The move for the state creation died down when Obasanjo requested the SE state creation caucus to key into his third term agenda. However the creation of a new sixth state for the SE is still in the front burner with clamour for Njaba, Anioma, Adada, Aba, Orashi, Orimili, Anim, etc all staking a claim.
https://allafrica.com/stories/200810210615.html

Major Town in Orlu Zone
Although there are over 100 towns in Orlu zone, the following below are the most developed.

1. Orlu
2. Oguta
3. Nkwerre
4. Umuaka
5. Mgbidi
6. Umuagwo
7. Akokwa
8. Amaigbo
9. Arondizuogu
10. Urualla
11. Umuowa
12. Awo-Omama
13. Awo-Idemili
14. Umundugba
15. Amaifeke
16. Okwudor
17. Izombe
18. Mmahu-Egbema
19. Ohoba
20. Amandugba
21. Osina
22. Dikenafai
23. Umueshi
24. Ozara
25. Ohoba
26. Okporo
27. Ebenator-Ekwe
28. Okwuabala
29. Amike
30. Akata
31. Abba
32. Ihioma
33. Okporo
34. Nkume
35. Otulu
35. Amiri
36. Atta
37. Owerre- Ebeiri

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