The family yesterday announced the death of Hon Simeon Mbakorkaa Tarka, a former member of the House of Representatives and eldest son of late Chief Joseph Sarwuan Tarka, a foremost Nigerian minority rights activist and President General of the United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC).
A spokesman for the Tarka family, Mr Chris Tarka, said in a statement that Hon Simeon Tarka attended a political meeting in Makurdi, Benue State, in the residence of Emmanuel Manger, a commissioner in the state when he suddenly became ill. According to the statement, he was rushed to a hospital where he was confirmed dead.
In the 1979 elections, Simeon emerged as the youngest member to be elected into the House of Representatives while his father was elected senator.