Juicegal: You sound as if its an abberation though you are very correct. This is Isu dialect and it is spoken in the whole of Nkwerre,Isu, Njaba LGAs, parts of Nwangele LGA and parts of Orlu LGA like amaike ,orlu-gedegwum, umudioka,mgbee, umuowa, owerri ebirri , umunna etc. While from Amaifeke ihioma okporo down to Orsu, Oru, Orsumoghu Amorka, Uli and Ihiala speak Oru and Oru sub dialects. We are still one all the same as a lot of intermarriages has taken place for generations and we share common history.
You are correct. However, how do you tell the difference between what a man from Uli speaks to what a man from Umuaka speak? Not much difference I think. And I think in Ideato areas like Akokwa and Arondizuogu speaks same dialect as Ndi Aguata na Orumba.
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 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.
Why The Soul of Igboland Orlu got the tag at the end of the Biafran war. It was the last place that surrendered during the war. As a matter of fact, many people never wanted to surrender even after the Biafran army had dropped their weapons. While Amandugba in Isu LGA was the last capital of the defunct Biafra, the Uli airstrip in Ihiala a few miles from Orlu town was were Ojukwu escaped on exile. Uli was reknowed for flying Biafran children to refugee camps in Gabon and was the last hope of Ndigbo for Catholic relief material during the war. The symbolism of Orlu surrendering shows that if you must capture Igboland, you must make sure Orlu is defeated before proclaiming victory.
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 west LGA’s are the main oil producing areas in Imo state. Although Ngor-Okpala, Owerri west and Ikeduru LGA’s under Owerri zone are marked as oil bearing, but they are yet to be tapped by the state.
Agriculture Orlu boast large plantation of cashew, palm oil and other cash crops. Famous amongst them are the palm 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. And a host of others.
Industrialization Orlu zone boast multinational companies such as: 1. Nigerian Breweries (formerly Consolidated Breweries) at Awo-Ommama Oru West 2. Ada Palm at Ohaji/Egbema 3. Oguta Port (now moribund) 4. Rubber Estate at Obiti Ohaji (now moribund) 5. Walter Smith Modular refinery Egbema 6. Seplat Gas Processing Company Egbema 7. International Market Orlu 8. Imo State Cardboard Industry
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
SW APC where una dey. Fayemi wants to challenge your god. This is a pointer that Yoruba’s don't love themselves. Like Awolowo vs Akintola, another one is about to go down. Funny enough, north supports Fayemi and his Osun state counterpart in this downsizing mission.
Kinematics: Abeg who be your father for Hart family? Let me expose you now since you want to be st*** on faceless forum.
And who the hell are you fake ass nigger? If you are serious with your threat. Bring it on! I will tell you my mom’s lineage in Captain Hart’s family. But we won’t end there. I will make the rules if you get mind. Be my guess.
SlayerForever: I'll need a detailed map. If it's our land then no inch should be left to marauders. Igbo kwenu
Bonny are not Igbos and aren’t Ijaws too. They prefer to be called Ibani/Ubani etc. As a matter of fact, if possible the next move would be to form one ethnic group with Opobo and Ndoki. The Ijaw nonsense of the landgrabbers from Bayelsa ended the moment Abacha pushed the clowns out. While, for the Igbos, they messed up during the civil war. We messed up. I’m Igbo from Umuagbayi Ndoki. And If I have my way, I would push for a new ethnic group for Ndoki, Opobo, Bonny.
favor914: [s]Ipob for ever claiming other people’s property (OPP), how can sophisticated open eye Opobo belong to the bush hinterland tribe?, the indigenous people of opobo sold Ndigbo as slaves, go and read your history well, the only land owned by the ibos is at & around Aro-Chukwu what we know today as Abia State. Thieves. Even Onitsha belongs to the Igala people[/s].
Another mongrel on this loose. Keep crying your eyes out and thinking you can landgrab Bonny. Face your useless states and backwater villages.
SlayerForever: I also understand from Koler's account that Igbo had almost totally displaced Ibani as early as 1840.
Too bad for Ibani speakers and Ibani culture in general. This shift is now irreversible because the native Igbo speakers are too great in number.
Bonny Island is complicated to visitors. The people of Bonny are not the only inhabitants of Bonny Island, a lot of people don't know this. Bonny Kingdom or Grand Bonny has been Igbo speaking from day one. However, Bonny Island also have other group. The Ibani that Koler heard and claimed was from Grand Bonny has never been Bonny main language. It's similar to Lagos Island, where you have the Oba of Lagos rulling Eko and Iru people of Oniru, etc. However, we have the people of Finima with Kongo ancestry. I believe this was the Ibani that Kohler confused himself with and that tongue is still spoken in Finima as of today. This is the language Izon wack historian are using to lure Bonny to drop the Ndoki-Igbo ancestral language.
The Kingdom of Bonny is Ndokki and Igbo speaking from day one. But the population was swelled with people from areas like Brass, Ngwa, Andoni, Kalabari and slaves brought from the Igbo and Izon hinterlands as well.
The modus operandi in the past was trade with the portuguese, dutch, and french. And you must have the tools to compete in such long distant trade. Bonny cultural structural became Wari styled similar to what is practiced in other eastern Ijo such as Kalabari, Brass etc, to fit the period of that time, but the language remained Igbo. Each household or the wealth of a man in time past, was modelled to fit the age of trade, canoe fleets, population and and able bodied men. This was why there was a level of aculturization by each canoe house to blend slaves inorder to swell their family strenght.
SlayerForever: So you're saying Ndoki and Ibani have same rights to Bonny? Or Ibani don't have any claim whatsoever?
What question is this? Ibani/Ubani etc is the same thing with Bonny. It depends on what dialect you speak. Again, Bonny is independent and can't share priviledges with anyone. The only thing that binds Bonny with Ndokki is the shared clan. This is how the family tree conects, Ndokki-Bonny-Opobo. One birthed one, and the other birthed the last.
sageb: you are a liar. Our first governor Diete spiff is the Amayanabo of Brass in Bayelsa.
Nembe/Brass and Bonny are relatives. Bonny and Brass share a lot in common, even as far as having a convenant. In the past when Bonny was at war with her neigbours, Brass were the only group Bonny was at peace with. As a matter of fact Brass made Canoes for Bonny. Nembe/Brass is connected to Aboh, same way Bonny is connected to Ndokki. But on the case of Bonny/Ndoki it goes beyond paternship, it's blood related.
SlayerForever: I had to go check even more sources. From Hermann Koler's account (1840) I could gather that apparently, the original Bonny people are a very small bunch and are Ibani by tribe. Slave trade swelled the numbers in Bonny greatly, maybe up to 10 times the number. These added numbers were mainly Igbo people hence the Igbo tongue pushed itself to the fore as the dominant. (Explains it's continued dominance today). However, Ibani survives still, amongst it's native speakers.
If this is the case, then the issue is far from an easy one. The Igbo folk there have same rights now to the land after over 200 years of calling it home. Plus they are the majority by a staggering distance. Ibani can't fully and confidently call it theirs anymore being the much smaller number. It's better the two groups live in peace.
So Igbo brethren we have brothers on the island of Bonny.
Bonny is owned by Ndokki. Igbos from other hinteland came the same time visitors from Izon arrived. But the foundation has been Ndoki from day one. Yes, Bonny borrowed the Wari system from Nembe/Kalabari and some cultures from imported Igbo and Izon slaves. But Bonny has been Ndoki and will always be till the end.
Kinematics: Permission to go to Bonny? I laugh at your ignorance. You visited.... tells a lot that you are not from Bonny. Where is your father from?
Imagine a foreigner asking such? A Hart with a blue blood is whom you dey ask that question abi you drink shepe? Oga I get installation to do now. Imposters know their limit.
Kinematics: You are giving this shameless landgrabber too much lecture. Free him, let him come to Opobo or Bonny and claim it for his ipoo clowns.
I don’t need visitation to my place. I can travel anytime. As a matter of fact, I visted last xmas holiday and enjoyed the Boat regatta. You on the other hand will need permission to come here, that is if you get mind to come.
nengibo: Pere means wealth just like Ala, stop talking nonsense, Pere is a Ijaw term to describe wealth, a king can be called Perebo, because kings are wealthy, just like Alabo, stop disgracing your mum and go and search 4 your dad.
Pere has no meaning in Bonny. Pere is what you called your Kings in backwater Izonland in Bayelsa and Delta. Amayanabo is the name here. Sleep on it.
nengibo: look this picture and tell me what you see, the Entire Ibani land is united to continue keeping the piriamapu in the bush, you claim your mum is Ibani, don't you know your dad, wetin concern you with Ibani land
I’m putting you in your place, Mr clown. You wish you were from Bonny, but you’ll never be. We don’t welcome mud blood, militants and drunks from backwater Bayelsa.
nengibo: Amanyanabo ? no na i thought he's an igwe, and the perekule in the pic too na photoshop, what was ur mums surname let me guess Okorowatta dynasty of onitsha grand kingdom in Bonny
Amanayabo is Bonny all through. Perekule is the Izonized version of Pepple. Pepple we know. Pere means King in the central Delta. It has no meaning in Bonny. Amanayabo Pepple is what we called him.
SlayerForever: You see people. No wonder he doesn't know those very common names.
He’s Bayelsa with a borrowed culture. Almost everything they practised today from the Amanayabo stool to the Wari etc were borrowed from eastern Ijos. The Nembe are now telling them their real story. Can a backwater Izon man stand up to a man from Nembe/Brass? Let alone a man from Kalabari or Ubani.
nengibo: then your papa blood is mostly porky hence your reasoning
At least there’s pride in his porkiness. Not one without any history apart from the fake one spinned by Alagoa. When did you clowns in Bayelsa become civilized? People whose history began in the 20th century. You are the true definition of mud blood.
Kinematics: Access to see is making them spin so many narrative to suit their langrabbing agenda. I lmao always whenever I see their attachee by force acts on nairaland.
This people are shameless...
Nothing like spin bullcrap. Face wherever shitty state you come from and I’ll be fine.
Politics › Re: Orlu: The Untold Story by Bonessaw(m): 5:33pm On Jan 10, 2021
