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HISTORY WAS made last Friday in Kumasi when for the first time, former President Jerry John Rawlings and his successor John Agyekum Kufuor rode in the same car with the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. The two former presidents were at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi to witness the former Black Stars defender, Samuel Osei Kuffuor�s testimonial match. Presidents Kufuor and Rawlings initially sat together at the VVIP lounge of the stadium to watch the entire game with the Asantehene. After proceedings of the exciting game, the two, who in recent times had been sharing platforms together, joined the Asantehene in one of his plush cars, the Royce Rolls, to the palace where they popped champagne. Mr. Rawlings was seen comfortably seated in front with Otumfuo and Mr. Kufuor at the back. Led by the royal motorcade, the three gentlemen drove straight to the Manhyia Palace where they dined together. Reports from the palace of the Asantehene indicated that Presidents Kufuor and Rawlings had positive conversations at the palace. The two gentlemen were some few years ago labeled as enemies who didn�t see eye-to-eye. But that cycle got broken when the duo ate the Lord�s Supper together with the Asantehene during the latter�s birthday celebrations about two years ago. Since then, the two gentlemen had been sighted in public places either shaking hands or having discussions. Just recently, Kufuor and Rawlings attended a musical show in Accra, where ace musician Daddy Lumba performed. Mr. Kufuor, during that show, was seen dancing with the wife of Mr. Rawlings, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, amid cheers from the crowd. Mr. Rawlings also attended the launch of the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation at the University of Ghana, Legon. Arriving in Kumasi for the game, Mr. Rawlings on Friday refused to sit in a state-provided car at the airport. The NDC founder rather chose to sit in a hired vehicle from Saint Michael�s Car Rentals provided for him by FONKAR members in Kumasi, led by Brogya Genfi and Mohammed Uthman. Mr. Rawlings was accompanied by Herbert Mensah and his decision not to sit in a state car shocked the government delegation, led by the Regional Minister, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman Mensah, who looked dejected and disappointed. The high-powered government delegation also included the Regional Security Coordinator Bimpong Marfo, Regional Police Commander DCOP Patrick Timbillah and the KMA boss Samuel Sarpong. When the commercial plane in which Mr. Rawlings traveled touched down, the government delegation immediately lined up in a manner reserved for presidents and royals. The NDC leader, who seemed not to be taken in by the government�s sudden change in attitude towards him, initially waved at the crowd with a grim face on arrival. Mr. Rawlings then shook hands with some known loyalists of his from the Zongo communities in Kumasi, before doing so with the government delegation. After that, he did not utter a word to the state officials and refused to sit in the numerous state cars that they had brought to the airport to ferry him to the stadium. The NDC founder was seen asking Brogya Genfi about the particular car that they had hired for him and after it had been identified, he and Herbert Mensah jumped into it and headed for the stadium. DAILY GUIDE gathered that the government delegation in the region, notably the Regional Minister, had in recent times refused to meet Mr. Rawlings whenever he visited the Ashanti regional capital. He was therefore shocked upon arrival at the airport to witness a high-powered government delegation, ready to give him the red carpet treatment. DAILY GUIDE gathered that power brokers at the Osu Castle in Accra, upon learning of Mr. Rawlings� visit to Kumasi for the Osei Kuffuor game, hurriedly ordered the government representatives in the region to give him a rousing reception at the airport.