Due to the slight misinformation and comments on these thread,
https://www.nairaland.com/6351107/only-city-11-l.g.a-area, I would like to make some corrections and throw better historical perspectives on the origin of the name Orlu and why a host of communities in the present day Orlu senatorial zone identify themselves to be from Orlu.

History of the name Orlu.

When the British first arrived the area, they met a host of communities and in the quest for easy administration, they sought for an educated chief or head who could serve as link of communication between them and the locals. This was the era of warrant chiefs. They met one Acholonu from Eluama village in ORLU GEDEGWUM community who met this criteria and thus elevated him to the head of the area with so much powers. Popularly known as Igwe of Orlu( even though his domain covered only Orlu Gedegwum) till his death and father to the late supreme court justice, Pat Acholonu and former deputy governor of Imo state , Douglas Acholonu( husband to Catherine Acholonu,; Obasanjo former special adviser on arts and culture).

The British colonial masters also went ahead to name all the communities around Orlu- Gedegwum covering all communities as far as and in the present day 12 local government areas of Orlu senatorial zone as one ORLU administrative division. Thus the name Orlu was borrowed from the Orlu gedegwum community where Acholonu hailed from. That is why people from these areas and 12 local governments identify first as Orlu before their respective community names due to the fact that in the no distant past, all where under one administrative region called Orlu before the creation of local government areas and senatorial zones. So don’t be surprised to hear someone from, Njaba , Isu, Orsu, Nkwere etc tell you he is from Orlu first before telling you his actual community name.


As already stated above, same name was used in birthing the present day Orlu LGA which covers communities like Amaike, Eziachi,Orlu-Gedegwum, Umunna, Amaifeke, Okporo,Umutanze, Ihioma, Umuezike, Obor, Ihitte Owerri Owerriebirri, Umudioka, Umuowa, Mgbee, Ogberuru, Obinugwu, etc . The city parts of Orlu we all know is mostly found in some of these communities in Orlu LGA.

Also in the delineation of senatorial zones, the name Orlu was again used to cover all the communities and local government in consistence with the old British colonial definition of the area . The local governments in Orlu senatorial zone are:
Orlu
Orsu
Oru West
Oru East
Ideato North
Ideato South
Njaba
Nkwerre
Nwangele
Isu
Oguta
Ohaji Egbema.

In Orlu senatorial zone, there are two major dialects or people, the Isu speaking dialects and sub-dialects who can be found in Ideato, Orlu, Njaba, Nkwere, Isu, Nwangele and some parts of Oru East LGAs, and the Oru speaking communities found in Orlu, Orsu, Oru East/West and Oguta LGAs with some found in Ihiala LGA of Anambra state and some in Delta state.
Present also are minority dialects like the Anioma – Ukwani dialect in Oguta, the Aro in Ideato, the Egbema dialects in Ohaji Egbema local government who are also found in Rivers state


Orlu is one , Orlu gbu Eze…

cc Nigercity, dedetwo

Pictures of orlu
The city with 12 l.G.A

Nigercity:
Pictures of orlu
The city with 11 l.G.A

U ae still making same mistakes. Its 12 local government areas.

Orlu IMO state

Cc otokx Enugupikin, SaiOba, rafindo, beremx

Juicegal:
U ae still making same mistakes. Its 12 local government areas.

Kk
I will modify
Change your title too
Correct it from 11 to 12

Orlu houses the IMO state international market

Entrance to IMO international market

Orlu

Inner streets of orlu

Near IMO international market

Sam okwaraji stadium orlu

Orlu stadium

Juicegal:
Due to the slight misinformation and comments on these thread,
https://www.nairaland.com/6351107/only-city-11-l.g.a-area, I would like to make some corrections and throw better historical perspectives on the origin of the name Orlu and why a host of communities in the present day Orlu senatorial zone identify themselves to be from Orlu.

History of the name Orlu.

When the British first arrived the area, they met a host of communities and in the quest for easy administration, they sought for an educated chief or head who could serve as link of communication between them and the locals. This was the era of warrant chiefs. They met one Acholonu from Eluama village in ORLU GEDEGWUM community who met this criteria and thus elevated him to the head of the area with so much powers. Popularly known as Igwe of Orlu( even though his domain covered only Orlu Gedegwum) till his death and father to the late supreme court justice, Pat Acholonu and former deputy governor of Imo state , Douglas Acholonu( husband to Catherine Acholonu,; Obasanjo former special adviser on arts and culture).

The British colonial masters also went ahead to name all the communities around Orlu- Gedegwum covering all communities as far as and in the present day 12 local government areas of Orlu senatorial zone as one ORLU. Thus the name Orlu was borrowed from the Orlu gedegwum community where Acholonu hailed from. That is why people from these areas and 12 local governments identify first as Orlu before their respective community names due to the fact that in the no distant past, all where under one administrative region called Orlu before the creation of local government areas and senatorial zones. So don’t be surprised to hear someone from, Njaba , Isu, Orsu, Nkwere etc tell you he is from Orlu first before telling you his actual community name.


As already stated above, same name was used in birthing the present day Orlu LGA which covers communities like Amaike, Eziachi,Orlu-Gedegwum, Umunna, Amaifeke, Okporo,Umutanze, Ihioma, Umuezike, Obor, Ihitte Owerri Owerriebirri, Umudioka, Umuowa, Mgbee, Ogberuru, Obinugwu, etc . The city parts of Orlu we all know is mostly found in some of these communities in Orlu LGA.

Also in the delineation of senatorial zones, the name Orlu was again used to cover all the communities and local government in consistence with the old British colonial definition of the area . The local governments in Orlu senatorial zone are:
Orlu
Orsu
Oru West
Oru East
Ideato North
Ideato South
Njaba
Nkwerre
Nwangele
Isu
Oguta
Ohaji Egbema.

In Orlu senatorial zone, there are two major dialects or people, the Isu speaking dialects and sub-dialects who can be found in Ideato, Orlu, Njaba, Nkwere, Isu, Nwangele and some parts of Oru East LGAs, and the Oru speaking communities found in Orlu, Orsu, Oru East/West and Oguta LGAs with some found in Ihiala LGA of Anambra state and some in Delta state.
Present also are minority dialects like the Anioma – Ukwani dialect in Oguta, the Aro in Ideato, the Egbema dialects in Ohaji Egbema local government who are also found in Rivers state


Orlu is one , Orlu gbu Eze…

You tried but half baked. There is officially nothing like orlu senatorial zone in the constitution, is just some sort of identity crises we're talking about that cursed it. What you call orlu senatorial zone is actually imo west senatorial zone, same way we have imo north covering okigwe and mbano, onuimo and the rest.

Juicegal:
Due to the slight misinformation and comments on these thread,
https://www.nairaland.com/6351107/only-city-11-l.g.a-area, I would like to make some corrections and throw better historical perspectives on the origin of the name Orlu and why a host of communities in the present day Orlu senatorial zone identify themselves to be from Orlu.

History of the name Orlu.

When the British first arrived the area, they met a host of communities and in the quest for easy administration, they sought for an educated chief or head who could serve as link of communication between them and the locals. This was the era of warrant chiefs. They met one Acholonu from Eluama village in ORLU GEDEGWUM community who met this criteria and thus elevated him to the head of the area with so much powers. Popularly known as Igwe of Orlu( even though his domain covered only Orlu Gedegwum) till his death and father to the late supreme court justice, Pat Acholonu and former deputy governor of Imo state , Douglas Acholonu( husband to Catherine Acholonu,; Obasanjo former special adviser on arts and culture).

The British colonial masters also went ahead to name all the communities around Orlu- Gedegwum covering all communities as far as and in the present day 12 local government areas of Orlu senatorial zone as one ORLU. Thus the name Orlu was borrowed from the Orlu gedegwum community where Acholonu hailed from. That is why people from these areas and 12 local governments identify first as Orlu before their respective community names due to the fact that in the no distant past, all where under one administrative region called Orlu before the creation of local government areas and senatorial zones. So don’t be surprised to hear someone from, Njaba , Isu, Orsu, Nkwere etc tell you he is from Orlu first before telling you his actual community name.


As already stated above, same name was used in birthing the present day Orlu LGA which covers communities like Amaike, Eziachi,Orlu-Gedegwum, Umunna, Amaifeke, Okporo,Umutanze, Ihioma, Umuezike, Obor, Ihitte Owerri Owerriebirri, Umudioka, Umuowa, Mgbee, Ogberuru, Obinugwu, etc . The city parts of Orlu we all know is mostly found in some of these communities in Orlu LGA.

Also in the delineation of senatorial zones, the name Orlu was again used to cover all the communities and local government in consistence with the old British colonial definition of the area . The local governments in Orlu senatorial zone are:
Orlu
Orsu
Oru West
Oru East
Ideato North
Ideato South
Njaba
Nkwerre
Nwangele
Isu
Oguta
Ohaji Egbema.

In Orlu senatorial zone, there are two major dialects or people, the Isu speaking dialects and sub-dialects who can be found in Ideato, Orlu, Njaba, Nkwere, Isu, Nwangele and some parts of Oru East LGAs, and the Oru speaking communities found in Orlu, Orsu, Oru East/West and Oguta LGAs with some found in Ihiala LGA of Anambra state and some in Delta state.
Present also are minority dialects like the Anioma – Ukwani dialect in Oguta, the Aro in Ideato, the Egbema dialects in Ohaji Egbema local government who are also found in Rivers state


Orlu is one , Orlu gbu Eze…

It is a shame that Igbo son or daughter can commit such intellectual blunder in the public. A thing left for people with initial stage of free education. I repeat Orlu town or city does not have 12 or 11 LGAs as some goofy posters have maintained. When senatorial zone in Imo State was considered, it was based on Imo west, north and east. For Imo west, Nkwerre made a strong case to be selected as name representation of the zone instead of Orlu. However the deciding powers went for Orlu on various reasons. I learnt certain heads in Ohaji\Egbema LGAs have set off motion to disassociate from Orlu senatorial camp.

Dedetwo:


It is a shame that Igbo son or daughter can commit such intellectual blunder in the public. A thing left for people with initial stage of free education. I repeat Orlu town or city does not have 12 or 11 LGAs as some goofy posters have maintained. When senatorial zone in Imo State was considered, it was based on Imo west, north and east. For Imo west, Nkwerre made a strong case to be selected as name representation of the zone instead of Orlu. However the deciding powers went for Orlu on various reasons. I learnt certain heads in Ohaji\Egbema LGAs have set off motion to disassociate from Orlu senatorial camp.

You are the one commiting the blunder of not reading to understand. What i wrote about here is about the Origin of the name Orlu and how Orlu LGA came to be named ORLU even when other names could have sufficed. Same with the Senatorial zone. Never did i say that Orlu city (which happens to be located in Orlu LGA and maybe parts of Orsu bordering Orlu LGA) has 12 LGAs.

Orlu , Owerri and Okigwe senatorial zones are the popular political delineation descriptions known to all sons and daughters of Imo state, both erudite and illiterate and even if the constitution replaces Orlu zone with Imo west, it changes nothing. We know those who make up Orlu Zone and thei respective historys and apart from Ohaji Egbema who are clamouring to opt out, others proudly bear, associate with and support the "ORLU" tag.

Enugupikin:

You tried but half baked. There is officially nothing like orlu senatorial zone in the constitution, is just some sort of identity crises we're talking about that cursed it. What you call orlu senatorial zone is actually imo west senatorial zone, same way we have imo north covering okigwe and mbano, onuimo and the rest.

It is known as Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri zones right from time immemorial. You are right in your north, west and east anyway but the former is more known.

Beremx:
It is known as Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri zones right from time immemorial. You are right in your north, west and east anyway but the former is more known.

Thank you my dear.

Beremx:
It is known as Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri zones right from time immemorial. You are right in your north, west and east anyway but the former is more known.

All these is because people feel their towns aren't popular and they need to be in a general well known town.
Same can't be said of Enugu where someone will tell you I'm from ụdị, Ngwo, Nsukka, Nkanu etc and not just owerri, orlu and okigwe whereas they're many towns in there.

Or Anambra which take pride in their town names, Nimo, Nibo, Nnobi, Enugwu Agidi, Awka Etiti, igbo ukwu, uli, Aguleri etc, towns here are even more popular than LGA

Or Ebonyi where someone will say I'm from Afikpo, ohaozara, Abakaliki, ohaukwu, ishielu etc

Or Abia where people are also proud of their towns like Abriba, ohafia, isuochi, Ngwá, umuahia, igbere, izu-Akoli etc

Imo people should take charge of their origin and stop simply hiding under owerri, okigwe and orlu zones

Enugupikin:

All these is because people feel their towns aren't popular and they need to be in a general well known town.
Same can't be said of Enugu where someone will tell you I'm from ụdị, Ngwo, Nsukka, Nkanu etc and not just owerri, orlu and okigwe whereas they're many towns in there.

Or Anambra which take pride in their town names, Nimo, Nibo, Nnobi, Enugwu Agidi, Awka Etiti, igbo ukwu, uli, Aguleri etc, towns here are even more popular than LGA

Or Ebonyi where someone will say I'm from Afikpo, ohaozara, Abakaliki, ohaukwu, ishielu etc

Or Abia where people are also proud of their towns like Abriba, ohafia, isuochi, Ngwá, umuahia, igbere, izu-Akoli etc

Imo people should take charge of their origin and stop simply hiding under owerri, okigwe and orlu zones

Nothing can be done about it. It shall remain like that forever

Beremx:
Nothing can be done about it. It shall remain like that forever

Well, I'm simply happy mbaise people don't indulge in the identity denial

Enugupikin:

All these is because people feel their towns aren't popular and they need to be in a general well known town.
Same can't be said of Enugu where someone will tell you I'm from ụdị, Ngwo, Nsukka, Nkanu etc and not just owerri, orlu and okigwe whereas they're many towns in there.

Or Anambra which take pride in their town names, Nimo, Nibo, Nnobi, Enugwu Agidi, Awka Etiti, igbo ukwu, uli, Aguleri etc, towns here are even more popular than LGA

Or Ebonyi where someone will say I'm from Afikpo, ohaozara, Abakaliki, ohaukwu, ishielu etc

Or Abia where people are also proud of their towns like Abriba, ohafia, isuochi, Ngwá, umuahia, igbere, izu-Akoli etc

Imo people should take charge of their origin and stop simply hiding under owerri, okigwe and orlu zones

You are still misinformed. Read to understand. These various communities in Orlu zone fully pride themselves by their various communities names also . I am from Amaike and if you ask me where I am from, I will tell you I am from Amaike Orlu. Same with someone from Okporo, Amaifeke, Ihioma or the little known Orlu-gedegwum. In the past we where all under one administrative division called ORLU and we all still associate with that general tag side by side our community name. Another unifying factor is our common ISU and ORU origins which we still recognize even when delineated into various local governments.
In Owerri zone , an Mbaise man can never tell you he is an Owerri man neither will an Mbaino man tell you he is an Okigwe man even though their respective senatorial zones are Owerri and Okigwe. I can feel the bias in your comments against Imolites but please don't miseducate and influence others with them.

Beremx:
It is known as Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri zones right from time immemorial. You are right in your north, west and east anyway but the former is more known.

Very wrong on the bolded. Above the street level, it is known constitutionally as Imo north, east and west. The nomenclatural thing pertaining to Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe was a localized political drama in order to drive politics to the local masses. Even some folks who have seen the four walls of the university may have problem relating to the senatorial zones through Imo north, west and east. I guess statutorily, the senatorial districts in Imo State are known as Imo north, west and east.

Juicegal:

You are the one commiting the blunder of not reading to understand. What i wrote about here is about the Origin of the name Orlu and how Orlu LGA came to be named ORLU even when other names could have sufficed. Same with the Senatorial zone. Never did i say that Orlu city (which happens to be located in Orlu LGA and maybe parts of Orsu bordering Orlu LGA) has 12 LGAs.

Orlu , Owerri and Okigwe senatorial zones are the popular political delineation descriptions known to all sons and daughters of Imo state, both erudite and illiterate and even if the constitution replaces Orlu zone with Imo west, it changes nothing. We know those who make up Orlu Zone and thei respective historys and apart from Ohaji Egbema who are clamouring to opt out, others proudly bear, associate with and support the "ORLU" tag.

My sister Juice, the adjectival word in the bolded settled the issue. It was an attempt to localize politics hence Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe zones were birthed. As for origin of "Orlu", I suggest you think of Oru. The Orlu is an Anglicized Oru as British spelt it.

Juicegal:
You are still misinformed. Read to understand. These various communities in Orlu zone fully pride themselves in their various communities names also . I am from Amaike and if you ask me where I am from, I will tell you I am from Amaike Orlu. Same with someone from Okporo, Amaifeke, Ihioma or the little known Orlu-gedegwum. In the past we where all under one administrative division called ORLU and we all still associate with that general tag side by side our community name. Another unifying factor is our common ISU and ORU origins which we still recognize even when delineated into various local governments.
In Owerri zone , an Mbaise man can never tell you he is an Owerri man neither will an Mbaino man tell you he is an Okigwe man even though their respective senatorial zones are Owerri and Okigwe. I can feel the bias in your comments against Imolites but please don't miseducate and influence others with them.

You are spot on with bolded. I think of Oru, Isuama and Urratta.

Dedetwo:


My sister Juice, the adjectival word in the bolded settled the issue. It was an attempt to localize politics hence Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe zones were birthed.

D2 my brother i hear you. But Orlu Zone is a bit unique. Even though we have the majority 12 LGAs and population spread in Imo state, We are mostly of ISU and ORU origin unlike other zones and till Jesus comes we recognize that fact and hardly bask in unnecessary divisions. Isu people are also present in Owerri zone in parts of Orodo, Ofekata etc and Okigwe zone in Abajah, Anara, etc. We still recognize them as Isu kiths even though they are delineated into other senatorial zones.

Juicegal:
D2 my brother i hear you. But Orlu Zone is a bit unique. Even though we have the majority 12 LGAs and population spread in Imo state, We are mostly of ISU and ORU origin unlike other zones and till Jesus comes we recognize that fact and hardly bask in unnecessary divisions. Isu people are also present in Owerri zone in parts of Orodo, Ofekata etc and Okigwe zone in Abajah, Anara, etc. We still recognize them as Isu kiths even though they are delineated into other senatorial zones.

Also included in Isuama are Nkwerre, Isu, Nwangele and Onuimo.

Dedetwo:


Also included in Isuama are Nkwerre, Isu, Nwangele and Onuimo.

Very Correct. But Onuimo unfortunately was zoned into Okigwe zone( Imo North) . The others are all in Orlu Zone( Imo west) and are indeed the purest Isuama stock who later spread to Orlu, Njaba, and parts of Ideato and Oru East LGAs and also parts of Mbaitoili LGA in Owerri zone

5 Million likes for this.

Dedetwo:


Also included in Isuama are Nkwerre, Isu, Nwangele and Onuimo.

Mbaitoli, Mbano, Ikeduru, half Okigwe, Ihiitte/Uboma are Isuama too. Each fall under Owerri and Okigwe zones.

Alright

The major towns/cities that comprises Orlu zone are thus:

1. Orlu
2. Akokwa
3. Umuaka
4. Oguta
5. Umundugba
6. Nkwerre
7. Amaigbo
8. Osina
9. Ekwe
10. Arondizuogu
11. Ohaji
12. Awo-Idemili
13. Ihioma
14. Mgbidi
15. Umuowa
16. Awo-Omamma
17. Nnenasa